Since their inception, Deafheaven have always been that band not to show where they’re going next. After releasing what some could consider their magnum opus in Sunbather (Deathwish Inc.), the band did not let that define the band they would become. Only two years later, they’d return with the far more moody New Bermuda (Anti Records/Epitaph Records). This would continue for the career they’d lead up to this point, especially in their previous efforts, Infinite Granite (Sargent House), taking the band from the Blackgaze sound they had cultivated and popularised, in search of a lighter, synthier approach. That brings us to the modern day, and it seems for all the teasing the band have done over the lead-up to their new project, Lonely People With Power, their debut release in their new deal with Roadrunner Records. This appears to be a culmination of what’s come before in one solid package, how these conflicting sounds will come together and meld is a completely different matter altogether.Continue reading
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On The Road… with Deafheaven
On an unseasonably warm start to the bleak days of November, Deafheaven rode into Boston to play the Royale Nightclub. The band is riding high on the strength of their recent album New Bermuda (Anti Records) and interest in the band, once a cult phenomenon is sky-high. Although not a sellout crowd, the joint was packed with the strange amalgam of fans you might expect by now: hipsters, old school black metallers, pizza thrashers, college kids and more. You might say it was a real melting pot concert goes, and giving way to the usual tribalism less diverse Boston shows sometimes get. The night was kicked off by Swedish blackened prog metallers Tribulation, who put on an amazing show. This is a band that continues to impress following their Children of The Night (Century Media) album early this year. We look forward to catching them again on the 2016 Decibel Tour. It seemed like Japan’s Envy had their own crowd in the house tonight. They were really vocal and made their approving presence known. That Envy is on tour with Defheaven shouldn’t be that surprising. Despite their hardcore roots, Envy is firmly ensconced in the post-rock/shoegaze majesty Deafheaven fans, and the band themselves clearly have an affinity for. Their show was a magical experience, with front man Tetsuya Fukagawa jumping into the crowd several times. It almost felt like they were the headliner themselves tonight. Lastly it was time for Deafheaven’s customary show of aggression, obscene volume, drone for days, bombast, light, shade, and very few words said to the crowd. Many intense glances from front man George Clarke sent the drooling crowd into overdrive. The band played a bunch of new songs, and some gems from the now classic Sunbather (Deathwish Inc.), but sadly nothing from Roads To Judah (also Deathwish Inc.). Despite the bands’ penchant for long, exploratory epic tracks, the set did feel a bit rushed through from my vantage point and ended in under an hour. Still, from tonight’s several minute chant for the band to return and play an encore (they didn’t) you can see why the band has risen so far, so fast. That is no doubt why many shows on the tour did sell out, including the last two this weekend at The Roxy in Los Angeles.
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PHOTOS BY EMMA PARSONS PHOTOGRAPHY
Lamb Of God and Anthrax Add Deafheaven And Power Trip To US Tour
Lamb of God who previously announced a string of tour dates this winter in the USA with Anthrax, have added Deafheaven and Power Trip as support acts. The tour starts January 15th in Pittsburgh, PA and hits 21 cities in all, ending in Los Angeles, CA on February 12th. Two more dates have been added: Nashville on 1/20 and Sayreville NJ on 1/26. Tickets for all dates are on sale now, except the two new dates which sees tickets available to the public on 11/25.
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Deafheaven – New Bermuda
(Editor’s note: The editor staff of Ghost Cult acknowledges the story of Deafheaven guitarist Kerry McCoy and his past homophobic tweets: which we find deplorable and unacceptable. This review was completed before the story broke, and we await McCoy’s apology and explanation for his behavior.)
Deafheaven is the most polarizing popular band in metal since Ghost. While it’s easy to take a common side in the hipsters versus troo kvlt versus mainstream metal fans war, this is unnecessary. Good music is good music. This band has been putting out genre-redefining music for some time now. This is not disputable if you have ears and good taste. The fact that they have gotten as huge as they have and the backlash that has come with it only serves to illustrate what a time this is in the world as a music fan. Fifteen years ago this band would surely have had much less of a chance to come from the underground and become huge. Let’s measure Deafheavan on their merits, new output and their impossible to top 2013s Sunbather (Deathwish Inc.) album, and not some intangible stuff that has no place in the world of music lovers, shall we?
Rather than try to top their best album, they just continue to stay in their own bubble and build out the sound they started. So if you already love this band, there is a lot to love on New Bermuda (Anti Records). Opening up with the harsh ‘Brought To Water’, this track serves notice that this band is immune to the weight of outside influences or trolls. Blastbeats and waves of frotsy riffs greet your ears, before a straight up death thrash riff blows you away. George Clarke’s vocals are even more gnarly than ever before, and Deafheaven’s best asset has raised his already choice lyric game considerably on this album. ‘Luna’ is the track most in line with Sunbather and is a quintessential cut for this band. Black metal and shoegaze melded together to form something sick and lovely all at once. Once again, the Jack Shirley’s production aesthetics are immaculate. He is one of the most in demand producers for a reason. Guitars shimmer and scream when they need to, while the drums sit in the mix perfectly with the cymbals never taking away from the high-end of the guitar army.
‘Baby Blue’ is the best track found here. Fooling you with its sneaky dynamic power: lush post-rock beauty juxtaposed with destructive chords of death. The buildup and release of this track is overpowering. Clark reaches a new level of grotesque with his vocals, invoking the spirits of all of his influences. It also has an excellent thematic guitar solo part, that is more akin to Soundgarden or Metallica than USBM. The final outro of the track has one of the most righteous, head-nodding riffs* this year. ‘Come Back’ will surely be another one holdover fans fawn over, a lot. The final stanza of the track has one of the most righteous head-nodding riffs this year. Closing out with the shortest cut on here at 8:22, ‘Gifts of Earth’, the band puts a brilliant exclamation point on this album and in some ways, their legacy as a band. A sprawling mini-opus, one that tells us much of where this band can really go musically both now and in the future.
While not as groundbreaking or original as Sunbather, which any band would be challenged to follow, New Bermuda hits you in all the right G-spots musically and emotionally for one of 2015’s undoubtedly finest releases.
8.5/10
Audio: Deafheaven – New Bermuda, Full Album Streaming
With a little over a week away until its release, Deafheaven have made their new album New Bermuda available for streaming at NPR’s “First Listen”. You can stream the album at this link or below:
Deafheaven’s New Bermuda releases next Friday, October 2nd from Anti-Records.
New Bermuda track listing:
01 Brought to the Water
02 Luna
03 Baby Blue
04 Come Back
05 Gifts for the Earth
Audio: Deafheaven – Come Back
Audio: Deafheaven Releases New Single- Brought To The Water
Deafheaven, who recently announced their new album New Bermuda (Anti-Records) have dropped their first single from this highly anticipated album. ‘Brought to the Water’ can be heard at this link or below:
Deafheaven Front man George Clark commented on the track:
“We wanted to share ‘Brought to the Water’ first because it gives a good idea of the overall sonic tone of the record and really evokes feelings that come with uprooting and throwing oneself into the complacent, monotonous routine of adulthood.”
Deafheaven Announce New Bermuda Album And Track Listing
On the heels of yesterday’s teaser trailer Deafheaven has officially named their new album New Bermuda and it drops on October 2nd from Anti Records. The artwork is an oil painting by artist Allison Schulnik. Recorded with longtime producer and collaborator Jack Shirley, New Bermuda as recorded live to tape in at 25th Street Recording in Oakland and at Atomic Garden Recording in Palo Alto .
Front man George Clarke commented about the concept of New Bermuda:
“It’s a new destination in life, a nebulous point of arrival, and an unknown future where things get swallowed up and dragged into darkness.”
New Bermuda track listing:
01 Brought to the Water
02 Luna
03 Baby Blue
04 Come Back
05 Gifts for the Earth
Video: Deafheaven Announce New Album, Premiere Trailer
Controversial US Post-blackmetal band Deafheaven have announced their highly-anticipated new album, for release this October via Anti Records. In a one minute teaser trailer released by the band they hinted at a possible title of album being New Bermuda. You can watch the video at this link or below:
The trailer features serene beach setting followed the band in the studio recording. A bruising track plays behind the video. The new Deafheaven album will be the follow-up to 2013’s Sunbather (Sargent House) album.