Ashen Blood is the forthcoming full-length from Denver-based psychedelic stoner doom unit GREEN DRUID. Set for release this March via Earache Records, Ashen Blood is at once brooding, atmospheric, and isolationist, with weighty riffs summoning the Lovecraftian horrors of the cosmos.
The sonic sorcery GREEN DRUID manifests on Ashen Blood entrances its listeners with tales of the Old Blood and of dismal worlds too soon forgotten. Observes The Obelisk upon an advance investigation of the record, “It does not seem at all like a coincidence that GREEN DRUID have been plucked from an emergent underground in Denver, Colorado, to release Ashen Blood on Earache Records. One of heavy metal’s most historically celebrated imprints has a history of landmarks in terms of riffy fare — … Sleep’s Holy Mountain chief among them but by no means the only one; albums from Cathedral, Iron Monkey, Fudge Tunnel, Deadbird, and Hour Of 13 come to mind — and even if it’s not the style for which Earache is chiefly known, GREEN DRUID represent well the core values of modern stoner-doom idolatry, a nodder like ‘Dead Tree’ rolling itself forward slowly but not without a fluid drive.”
“And surrounded as they are in their hometown by the likes of the pure onslaught of Primitive Man, the emotive doom of Khemmis, the unbridled boogie of Cloud Catcher, and so on,” the esteemed blog continues, “GREEN DRUID succeed via the tortured string pulls and wails of ‘Cursed Blood’ in finding a blown-out space of immersive rhythm and Iommic rollout, each righteous-for-righteousness’-sake riff helping to sculpt a niche for the band that, by the time they get around to the three-minute noise finale ‘Nightfall,’ they’ve made their own and thoroughly dominated. Whatever it might seem to accomplish superficially, Ashen Blood proves deceptive in its ambition in displaying the band’s sheer will to overwhelm their listeners with viscous tonality, obscure shouts, and jarring thud and crash. It should be considered nothing less than a joy to the already converted, and as they present their mystical lyrical themes with a bent more toward fantasy literature than cultish posturing, there’s a classic sensibility drawn from the metal of old that only makes GREEN DRUID seem all the more human in their approach. They’re fans too. Clearly.” [Read the full review HERE.]
Succumb to the sounds of “Pale Blood Sky,”below:
And if you missed it, sample the band’s “Dead Tree” video:
Initially self-released, Ashen Blood will receive a proper unveiling via Earache Records March 16th on CD, LP, and digital formats. For preorder bundles, go to THIS LOCATION.
GREEN DRUID worships at the feet of the monolithic amplifier, and performs holy communion with the tremorous onslaught of murky tones that emanate from its maw. “While our first EP and foray into the world of doom could be viewed as us learning the ins-and-outs of the genre, Ashen Blood is where we really started to hone in on our own voice,” issues the band. “Taking influence from the dark fantasy landscapes of games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne, we strove to create a truly doomed psychedelic experience.”
GREEN DRUID will play a handful of area performances including a record release show on March 23rd and an appearance at Electric Funeral Fest III with additional shows to be announced soon. See all confirmed dates below.
poster art by Karmazid
GREEN DRUID:
2/09/2018 Bar Bar – Denver, CO w/ The Hazytones, GreenMountain, Pennysick
2/22/2018 Bar Bar – Denver, CO w/ Ghosts of Glaciers, Kenaima, Vexing
3/23/2018 Hi-Dive – Denver, CO w/ Cult of the Lost Cause, Chieftain, Matriarch
6/29/2018 Electric Funeral Fest – Denver, CO w/ Speedwolf (reunion show), Spirit Adrift, Aseethe, R.I.P., more
GREEN DRUID:
Graham Zander – guitar
Chris McLaughlin – guitar/vocals
Ryan Sims – drums
Ryan Skates – bass
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