Photo by Trenton Woods
Arizona death metal practitioners WYRMHAVEN will unleash their savage debut full-length, Seasons Of Gloom, on May 29th.
Since their formation in 2018, Tucson’s WYRMHAVEN has been a band defined by change and growth. That forward motion has seen them constantly refine their approach and reach a level of confidence and maturity that many bands aspire to, and in a relatively short period of time. Since the beginning, the band has focused on crafting a sound based in melodic death metal, but have been willing to experiment with musical elements drawn from other subgenres, such as progressive metal and metalcore. Early recordings reveal an affinity for the melody and velocity of The Black Dahlia Murder’s take on the Gothenburg sound. As the band has continued to evolve, they have incorporated more complex and sophisticated sounds into their blueprint, creating sonic links to influences such as Gojira and Arsis.
Seasons Of Gloom is the band’s latest offering and their first full-length record. Written during a time of significant loss and perseverance, the record shows the band’s ability to craft songs that evoke dark aggression as well as personal vulnerability. Still anchored by catchy and intentional songwriting, these new songs manage to reach further into the past and show a reverence to metalcore’s early days. The precise riffing and chugging of songs like “Morning Star” show the band’s deep knowledge and respect for bands like Burnt By The Sun and Glass Casket, while the mournful and cathartic tone of “Unrelenting Storms,” perhaps one of the record’s most personal songs, maintains a link to the band’s earlier work.
The band elaborates, “Seasons Of Gloom is a manifestation of perseverance in light of the struggles that we have faced in this season of life. To us, this album is a recognition that something worthwhile can exist in spite of the many troubles growing around us. The music is deeper and more intricate than before, and we honed our writing process by both starting and finalizing everything as a live group. Lyrically, the songs carry a message of personal and inner struggle coupled with existential crisis, where rot, decay, and stagnation seep through every distorted syllable. A lot of people feel the gloom and sorrow of this season of humanity. We hope our music resonates with those who need it in the same way we needed to channel our own raw emotions while making it.”
In advance of the record’s release, the band presents its first single, “Morning Star.” Says vocalist Steve Naemark, “‘Morning Star’ is written from the occult perspective that our subconscious is the creator of the reality we perceive. The lyrics depict an undead army rising to pay tribute to The Lightbringer. In this context, that imagery is symbolic for serving yourself to become a more complete individual. Some parts of ourselves are not pleasant to know, and ‘Morning Star’ is about choosing not to lie to yourself.”
Stream WYRMHAVEN’s “Morning Star” HERE.
With the release of Seasons Of Gloom, WYRMHAVEN is poised to expand their domain in the metal world, preparing a powerful live show to support the release, and making plans to conquer new territories through touring and festival appearances. Fans of melodic and heavy take note, after the Seasons Of Gloom will come, the seasons of triumph…
WYRMHAVEN’s Seasons Of Gloom was produced by the band and Ryan Bram (Gatecreeper, Spirit Adrift, Terminal Nation), engineered by Ryan Bram and mixed and mastered by Zack Ohren (Machine Head, Fallujah, Entheos, All Shall Perish). The record comes swathed in cover art by Adam Burke (Nightjar Illustrations) and will be released on limited edition vinyl and digitally.
Find preorders on the WYRMHAVEN Bandcamp page HERE.
Seasons Of Gloom Track Listing:
1. Corruptoris
2. Beneath The Pale
3. Morning Star
4. Sunless Solstice
5. Unrelenting Storms
6. Violent Afterglow
7. Nightshade’s Embrace
8. Pendulum Faces
9. Lifeless Oceans
10. Obsidian Gold
WYRMHAVEN:
Nick Cowan – guitars
Stephen Majalca – drums
Keith Huffman – bass
Travis Skye – lead guitars
Steve Naemark – vocals
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