photos by Britt Crowe
Extreme metal portal Knotfest today premieres “Midnight In Pain,” the new single from Chicago-based crushing sludge/powerviolence duo STOMACH. The track is the newest preview of the band’s debut LP, Parasite, set to be unleashed on Hibernation Release at the end of October.
STOMACH began in early 2020 during one of the most critical, uneasy, and isolated times for the world as we know it. Drummer/vocalist John Hoffman started the project as an attempt to focus on a darker and more abstract version of the hatred that once infiltrated former projects Weekend Nachos and Ledge. What started as a loose vision of pure Earth and Grief worship quickly mutated into a more unique canvas of misanthropy and despair, combining the sounds of sludge, noise and powerviolence, with zero limits in sight. Later, guitarist Adam Tomlinson of Sick/Tired and Sea Of Shit fame joined the lineup; a fateful reunion of minds from his early days of drumming in the very first Weekend Nachos lineup.
Following two self-released underground demo tapes, and playing the occasional gig, STOMACH continues to spread their brand of misery across a dejected world with their debut full-length, Parasite, spewing forth eight searing tracks of filth-ridden sludge and gut-churning doom combined with spiteful and introspective lyrical concepts. Parasite was recorded at The Pit II, Geneva, Illinois in the Fall of 2022, and was mixed and mastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios. With Parasite, STOMACH has created an aggressively gripping aural experience fitting for these bleak times. The LP’s pained, dredging anguish is a must-hear for those who worship at the altar of Grief, Corrupted, Primitive Man, Indian, Toadliquor, and other slow-motion auditory misery.
With the new track “Midnight In Pain,” Hoffman reveals, “I woke up at 12:30 AM one evening and stumbled to the sink, spitting out just a tiny bit of blood for some unknown reason. I looked in the mirror and hated who I was. Sometimes, that’s just how it goes. You can’t always explain misery – it just exists.”
Knotfest writes, “With a collective resume that included beloved underground heroes like Weekend Nachos, Sick/Tired and Sea Of Shit, the two ultimately came together to assemble an assaultive stylistic amalgam under the name, STOMACH. Fusing a vile meld of sludge, noise and powerviolence into one combustive Molotov, the pair put out a couple of demos en route to fleshing out enough music to debut their first LP… The result is Parasite, an eight-track presentation of vitriol and venom soundtrack by the band’s brand of sludge, doom, and corrosive damnation.”
Stop by Knotfest and listen to STOMACH’s caustic “Midnight In Pain” first RIGHT HERE.
Parasite will be available on October 20th digitally and vinyl via Hibernation Release, with 100 pressed on Clear wax as a label exclusive as well as 200 copies on Black. Find preorders at the label webshop HERE and Bandcamp where “Ocular Migraine” is streaming HERE.
Stand by for additional previews of the album to post over the weeks ahead.
STOMACH will perform regionally in support of the new album, including a hometown show with Crowbar, Primitive Man, and Bodybox on September 28th. Watch for updates to post shortly.
STOMACH Live:
9/28/2023 Reggies – Chicago, IL w/ Crowbar, Primitive Man, Bodybox
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