Arizona metal militia TOAD has returned to its homeland of Phoenix after a two-week migration through the Rocky Mountains and across the southern United States. To say TOAD‘s journey was a success would be an understatement. Old friends were revisited, new allies were formed, and TOAD‘s rotten gospel was delivered on a nightly basis to receptive congregations. Upon their return to the desert, TOAD immediately delved back into the writing process in preparation for the next album. TOAD‘s new music is an expansion and improvement upon the themes prevalent in last year’s Rotten Tide, which continues to reap critical acclaim from critics and fans alike. These latest songs are the results of a more mature, driven, and aggressive band. Once the record is finished, TOAD plans on continuing its Eastern expansion to the Atlantic coast, and beyond. Take Over And Destroy.
In the meantime, check out live footage from the band’s stop in Fayetteville, Arkansas last month:
A maniacal six-piece, TOAD formed in 2008 and has rapidly evolved into a complex entity. TOAD‘s sound is hardly definable but rather a divine amalgamation of and elaboration upon all things heavy within the last four decades of rock music. Though obviously influenced by the Scandinavian death and black metal movements of the 1990s, the band ensures that every song pulsates with the groove established by metal’s forefathers – bands like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. With the addition of former Slut Sister and Drone Throne guitarist Alex Bank Rollins, and the replacement of original guitarist Danny Labarbera by former Queen Beast member Nate Garrett, the band has solidified a group that is road-ready and unstoppable in both its creative output and self-promotion. Rounding out the lineup are original members Andy Leemont on vocals, Shane Taylor on drums, Trey Edwin on bass, and Pete Porter on organ. TOAD strive to be at the forefront of the progression of the genre.
“TOAD‘s Rotten Tide Oozes Analog Menace” – Phoenix New Times
“TOAD has created a great album with a full and amazing analog sound that defies easy classification. Call it death metal, post-metal, or doom, it is all of those, but as noted previously, at the core it is a rock album.” – Axe
Of Contrition
“It’s got that raw, grooving rock n roll appeal that you’ll find with the likes of Bison B.C. combined with the grim psychedelic feel offered by few others than Nachtmystium.” – Metal Storm
“Rotten Tide comes across like the bastard son of Entombed with its spit-in-your-eye attitude and brash swagger. It’s rough and raw, whilst managing to sound decently produced…it grooves, it has dark psychedelia, it’s catchy, it’s unhinged; there is a mash up of punk, black metal, crazy treble picking, utterly abrasive and yet catchy.” – The Sleeping Shaman
“Rotten Tide blends a variety of styles from bombastic hardcore metal to post-Mastodonic technicality, and – perhaps most curiously of all – a preference for analog recording that’s almost entirely absent from the larger scope of modern metal. ” – The Obelisk
https://www.facebook.com/TOADmusic
http://takeoveranddestroy.bandcamp.com