[photo by Craig McGillivray]
“…a madcap romp; an irreverent thrill ride; a swirling vortex from which there is no escape…” – VHÖL on “The Desolate Damned“
Deeper Than Sky is the long-anticipated new full-length from psychedelic thrash collective, VHÖL, set for release next month through Profound Lore. Picking up from where their critically-lauded 2013 self-titled debut left off, with their sophomore recording, VHÖL — vocalist Mike Scheidt (Yob), guitarist John Cobbett (Hammers Of Misfortune, ex-Ludicra), bassist Sigrid Sheie (Hammers Of Misfortune, ex-Amber Asylum) and drummer Aesop Dekker (Agalloch, Worm Ouroboros, ex-Ludicra) — has manifested something truly next level, pushing their already-singular sound to the outer realms of sonic exploration within the paradigm of old-school speed metal.
The record was captured at Light Rail Studios via Jerry Garcia’s 2″ tape deck, mastered at Trakworx Studio, both in San Francisco, and boasts the cosmic cover creation of Brandon Duncan which unites some of Cobbett’s sketches and concepts with Duncan’s original art, the results of which accurately encapsulate the mind-altering vibe of the music contained within.
As a precursor to its release, NPR today unveils first single, “The Desolate Damned,” issuing of the offering and twisted opening tune, “…Deeper Than Sky emerges mid-shred like an impossible silver vessel careening through space. Visual artist Brandon Duncan depicts that sonic offering as a cosmic ship exploding through the shards of a glassy blue canvas. It’s an audio-visual mind-meld with the Bay Area band’s inter-dimensional metal, heard most triumphantly in the album’s lead-off track and first single, ‘The Desolate Damned.’… Here, VHÖL tones down its earlier black metal notions and goes straight for ’80s speed, channeling the balls-to-the-wall, Rubik’s Cube thrash of Voïvod, mainlining D-beat drums and throwing in a celestial choral bridge for good measure. If it all seems over-the-top, wait until you reach Cobbett’s overdubbed dueling guitars – this is some of his most giddy and insane work to date.”
Self-described as, “a madcap romp; an irreverent thrill ride; a swirling vortex from which there is no escape,” “The Desolate Damned,” is available for communal ingestion courtesy of NPR at THIS LOCATION.
VHÖL was forged from the ashes of Pentagram cover band, Parallelogram, which featured Mr. Hate of Noothgrush on vocals, Cobbett on guitar, Sheie on bass, and Dekker on drums. They disbanded when the real Pentagram arose from the grave. Finding themselves unable to keep the tempos under control anyway, they took to thrash and started penning originals. Eventually, Scheidt took over vocals. When their self-titled debut album was released in 2013, the effort was a surprise to many who didn’t expect what VHÖL would initially sound like from their pedigree alone. Crowned, “…a generative force with an unpredictable will of their own,” by Pitchfork and hailed by Metal Assault for delivering, “seven neck-breaking slabs of crusty, swinging, dark heavy metal,” the offering bore the sounds of a true musical exploration where each of its members would experience something innovative during the composing process while simultaneously rediscovering their oldschool metal roots.
VHÖL‘s Deeper Than Sky will be released via Profound Lore on October 23rd, 2015 with preorders currently available at THIS LOCATION.
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