[photo by Exploding Lens]
As Gainesville, Florida-based trio THUNDERCLAP prepares to release their debut LP, Inebriocean, through Financial Ruin late this month, the album’s first single, “47,” has been issued through a premiere hosted by Decibel Magazine.
Smoothly melding elements of metal and classic rock into a thick layer of swampy southern groove and doom, THUNDERCLAP‘s output is a far cry from its members other/former acts, as Todd Rockhill, Ale Gasso, and Danny Welsh, have collectively played with Discount, Army Of Ponch, The Draft, Unitas, J.Page, House On Fire, Black Cougar Shock Unit, and many others through the years before this act.
Inebriocean was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Ryan Williams at Black Bear Studios in Gainesville and completed with cover art by Ted Lincoln.
With the premiere of “47,” Ale Gasso explains, “The whole album plays on a theme – the Inebriocean. The ocean represents the darkness and despair of an inebriated life – nearly drowning yet thriving in a dangerous place where one has lost control. ’47’ falls right in the middle of the album as the climax of the journey in the Inebriocean. The song itself tells the story of a card game as a metaphor for the inner workings of a dive bar. The same rules apply. ‘All in at the table. All in at the bar. Once it’s thrown down, we all know we won’t be going too far.”
The track features additional guest vocals by the band’s friend Rachel Ryder. Todd Rockhill offers, “I remember watching Rachel’s band, Towers Of Hanoi, play here in Gainesville. I was always impressed by her range and the crazy things she could do with her voice. When I was putting the vocal together for ’47’ I heard in my head something I knew I couldn’t do. When we were demoing the track, I sent her a message out of the blue asking if she would be interested. She showed up about an hour later and absolutely nailed it. I can’t imagine this song without her now.”
Decibel writes with their premiere of the new song, “Florida trio THUNDERCLAP may be new, but the band’s members have a long history in the hardcore, punk and emo scene in their home state… Despite that, their debut LP Inebriocean is a potent collection of rifftastic doom metal.”
Stream THUNDERCLAP’s “47” early through Decibel Magazine RIGHT HERE.
Financial Ruin will release Inebriocean on LP and digital platforms on March 29th, with distribution through Dead Tank Records. Fans of Torche, Red Fang, Royal Thunder, and Kylesa need to hear THUNDERCLAP. Find preorders for the LP HERE.
THUNDERCLAP is playing live throughout the area in the weeks surrounding the LP’s release, including a newly-confirmed hometown album release show on April 4th and more.
Watch for additional track premiere and more to be issued in the coming days, and for more widespread tour dates to be posted shortly as well.
THUNDERCLAP Live:
3/15/2019 Shanghai Nobby’s – St. Augustine, FL @ Nob Fest
4/04/2019 Loosey’s – Gainesville, FL * record release show
4/19/2019 The Atlantic – Gainesville, FL @ 352 Fest
Todd Rockhill and Danny Welsh originally formed THUNDERCLAP as a two piece in 2012, a time when Gainesville really didn’t have many heavy local bands. They aimed to fill that gap – to create the music they loved. Their music was influenced by metal bands like Judas Priest and Black Sabbath mixed with the down-tuned riffage of sludgy bands like Floor and Cavity. After a few songs were written, Rockhill was working on lyrics when he came upon a book of poems by Ale Gasso. Her dark poems fit the mood of the band and soon were set perfectly to the music. Bassist Jerome Goodman was added to the mix and they released their first record, The Moon Leads, in 2014. Gasso joined as guitarist shortly thereafter. When life took Goodman in a different direction, the band dropped the bass from their lineup and has remained sans-bass trio since, into the creation of their latest album and first LP, Inebriocean.
THUNDERCLAP combines poetry and music with different movements, tones, and emotions wrapped together to create a complete experience for listeners rather than just the average one-dimensional song. Breaking away from the traditional hardcore that permeated the scene at the time, they added layers of visual and conceptual feeling to the dark, heavy music which they felt properly reflected what they were feeling inside. Inebriocean is a journey, combining songs of varying lengths, moods and genres in order to replicate the true experience of life and art. The album’s seven lush tunes boast attributes of classic Southern rock and modern doom metal in a seamless blend of empowering riffs and emotive atmospheres.
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