Portland, Oregon-based powerhouse DIESTO will release their mammoth fifth LP, For Water or Blood, later this month via the hometown hellions at outsider D.I.Y. label Eolian Empire.
Comprised of guitarist/vocalist Chris Dunn, guitarist Mark Bassett, bassist Rusty Powers and drummer Devon Shirley, since the turn of the century DIESTO has ravaged the lands with their pummeling riffery through a pile of releases and countless shows, their determination heralding the band as one of Portland’s hardest-working heavy acts. While their earlier days showcased a more noiserock-built flamboyance, over time the aggro has eroded a bit, the sharper edges of their rock now worn down to a smoother doom rock style, while all of the heaviness remains. The band’s four previous full-lengths have earned them respect from media outlets everywhere, with Exlcaim stating “All that gloomy weather in Portland, OR has finally found its musical incarnation,” while All Music Guide called them “heavyweights whose lumberjack physiques conveniently match the thundering density of their sound,” and revered doom/extreme blog Doommantia fearlessly dubbed them “one of the best bands to ever come out of Portland.”
DIESTO‘s freshly completed fifth LP For Water or Blood — their first release for Eolian Empire, and their first album to be released on vinyl — finds the band continuing its journey West, its storied and troubled past dragged through the Cascadian forest to the Pacific Ocean, treading and crawling slowly but steadily ahead as it cuts a winding path of riffs deep into the heavy frontier with echoes of Zep III, Pompeiian Floyd, and Masters of Reality bouncing between mountains of Sleep and Yob doom boosted by heavy hooks, chiming intertwined guitars, expressive vocals, and surprising attacks of angular noise rock and dissonance. The recording by Adam Pike (Red Fang, Norska, Nether Regions) at Toadhouse showcases the band’s live prowess and love of pedal-free amplifier tone — the album’s hymns tracked live and straight up with minimal overdubs — making For Water or Blood an arduous but adventurous journey into the unknown using the wisdom of the ages, its enthralling cover art sanctioned to Sam Ford (Wizard Rifle, Black Cobra). Eolian is preparing to drop the new platter on 180-gram vinyl and digital download on August 27th worldwide, the digital version containing a new mix of the track “Arrows” from the label’s massive KEEP OUR HEADS comp as a bonus track.
To help spread the news, revered UK-based doom/rock outlet The Sleeping Shaman has hosted an exclusive premiere of For Water or Blood‘s fourth song, “Sirens,” now playing RIGHT HERE.
With a home turf record release show confirmed to take place on Friday, August 30th alongside Fellwoods and labelmates Honduran, much more is in store from DIESTO in the coming weeks, including widespread touring in support of the album, their pending first official video and all kinds of other good stuff. Stay tuned.
DIESTO Live:
8/30/2013 Foggy Notion – Portland, OR – For Water or Blood record release w/ Honduran, Fellwoods
For Water or Blood Track Listing:
1. Trail to the Sun
2. Edge of the World
3. The Road
4. Sirens
5. Adrift at Sea
6. Dirty River
7. Arrows* (digital bonus track)
http://diesto.bandcamp.com
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http://eolianempire.com
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