Oakland progressive doomers Secrets of the Sky have signed to Metal Blade Records for the release of their as-yet-untitled second album later this year. The new record, which follows 2013’s To Sail Black Waters, has been recorded and is I guess just kind of hanging out until the schedules align. Figure with Secrets of the Sky‘s blend of black metal, doom, post-whathaveyou and penchant for atmospherics, you’d expect a summer or fall release, but we’ll see if they want to wait that long. Probably depends on tour plans as well, since I doubt Secrets of the Sky would’ve been picked up had their promotional plan involved sitting on ass.

Bottom line? Same as ever: More to come as I hear it. For now, this from the PR wire:

Secrets of the Sky signs to Metal Blade Records

Oakland, CA natives, Secrets of the Sky, have signed with Metal Blade Records and will be releasing their sophomore album in the summer of 2015! The psychedelic, doom act released “To Sail Black Waters” through Kolony Records in late 2013.

After touring in support of “To Sail Black Waters” over the past two years, Secrets of the Sky are prepared to take their next step. They’ve completed tracking their sophomore album at Trident Studios with producer/engineer Juan Urteaga (Testament, Machine Head, Cattle Decapitation). Details and new music will be released this summer.

Secrets of the Sky comments on joining forces with Metal Blade Records: “We are very excited to be joining the Metal Blade Records roster. The Metal Blade legacy, reputation and commitment to heavy music has stood the test of time. The staff we have been working with genuinely “get” what it is that our band is doing and have been tremendously supportive of it thus far. We are also pleased to announce that our second full length will be released in the coming months. The album was again recorded by Juan Urteaga at Trident Studios and is another abstract concept piece. We believe we pushed ourselves in writing it to further develop our sound and we put more focus on creating a collection of songs that flow from beginning to end, while still retaining the cinematic qualities we originally set out with on our debut.”

Watch the Andrew Nethery-directed “Decline” video from their previous album on the official band youtube channel, youtube.com/SecretsoftheSkyBand.

http://www.facebook.com/secretsofthesky
https://twitter.com/secretsofthesky
http://www.metalblade.com/us/

Secrets of the Sky, “Decline” official video

They kind of had to stretch to make the title work, but they got there in the end. For each respective side of the Battleground Records split tape between Arizona polisci sludgecore bashers Godhunter and Oakland atmospheric blackened doomers Secrets of the Sky, there are two songs. Godhunter present “Pursuit/Predator” and “Gh/0st:s” and Secrets of the Sky have “The Star” and “Gh/0st:s (Part II),” the latter cut for both deriving its title from an acronym of the bands’ names, the second one altered so that if written out it would appear as “Of the Sky: Secrets” and stylized with a zero where the ‘o’ in “of” would otherwise be. Again, it’s a stretch, but they make it work, and tie the two pieces together musically well. The two acts toured together earlier this summer around slots at the Doom in June festival in Las Vegas and they’ll partner again — with many others as well — for the Southwest Terror Fest as part of a booming lineup headed by Neurosis, SunnO))), Goatsnake, et al. On the earlier tour, the tape was sold in an edition of 100 copies with artwork by Nate Burns. Vinyl is due at the end of this month in cooperation between Battleground and The Compound.

What the two bands mostly have in common is that they’re heavy, and yes, I recognize that says next to nothing about them. Godhunter derive a big part of their sound from hardcore, and as the “Pursuit/running you down” call and response gang-style vocals over acoustic guitar round out “Pursuit/Predator” — which begins and ends with the Zodiac Killer, sampled — that’s all the more prevalent. To contrast, Secrets of the Sky take a Euro-style approach to blackened doom, a clearer production than one thinks of to fit the phrase “American black metal” adding a lush sensibility to their doomed progression on “The Star.” I suppose the two bands share an affinity for experimentation as well, however, since both 10-plus-minute installments of “Gh/0st:s” depart widely from the sphere of what one might expect from the band. In Godhunter‘s case, they bring in vocalist Julia DeConcini of Young Hunter and Burning Palms to top a moody, ambient tension with layers of otherworldly melody. There’s a spoken word break somewhere around the middle, and a guitar chug emerges later on, but at no point does “Gh/0st:s” explode with the kind of aggression shown in “Pursuit/Predator,” and that’s obviously the idea.

Immediately, Secrets of the Sky are on a different wavelength. Side two starts out with guitars slowly building up, and when “The Star” kicks in full brunt, the Oakland five-piece include a roaring death metal growl for good measure. A current of synth throughout provides further distinction, but even without, Secrets of the Sky have a more metallic root. Blackened vocals over a rolling doom verse give way to atmospheric guitar and spoken whispers, and it’s not until the final moments a cleaner-sung approach is revealed. By then, Secrets of the Sky have taken “The Star” up and down and around and beaten the hell out of it, a clear, full production ensuring that nothing is lost in the process. A more plotted feel presides over “Gh/0st:s (Part II)” as well, which is instrumental save for the endearingly blasphemous Exorcist sample at the end, as it too builds and recedes with crisply mixed toms, synth, acoustic guitar and plugged-in rumble. The sample is what pushes the track past 10 minutes, and I’d call it superfluous, but Secrets of the Sky and Godhunter pretty clearly had in mind that the pieces would complement each other and be of similar length, and they are.

Despite the sonic differences, there’s an apparent affinity between the two bands for each other’s work, and that comes across as they meet in the middle (it’s a very far out “middle”) on the two “Gh/0st:s” pieces. Still, each side of the tape has something different to offer underscoring the idea that, let’s say, if you’re showing up to a gig where both acts will be taking the stage, there’s really any number of angles from which your ass might be kicked.

Godhunter & Secrets of the Sky, Split (2014)

Godhunter on Thee Facebooks

Secrets of the Sky on Thee Facebooks

Battleground Records

The Compound

In just a few short hours, this year’s Doom in June fest gets its start, and Doom in June Vol. 4 is definitely the most varied and farthest reaching yet, bringing in the deathly likes of Satan’s Host and Novembers Doom for ultra-dark headlining slots, while Acid Witch, Pale Divine, Ides of Gemini, Godhunter, Whores of Tijuana and many others hold down a two-day trudge through various styles and takes on the heavy. It’s an admirable grouping of acts, and The Cheyenne Saloon is a killer room in which to see a show, so no doubt in my mind it’ll be an excellent time for those fortunate enough to make it out.

If that’s you, well, you already know the deal. For everyone else, let me just say one more time how thrilled I was to be included among the sponsors for this year’s event, and how much I’m looking forward to seeing videos and hearing reports of how it all went down.

One more time, here’s the full lineup and ticket links:

DOOM IN JUNE VOL. 4

Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th, 2014 at The Cheyenne Saloon

Las Vegas, NV, Friday, June 6, 2014 — Salem Rose Music is excited to present the full line-up for Doom in June Vol. 4 Music Festival in Las Vegas. Festival kicks off Friday night (June 6th). In keeping with festival tradition, Saturday (June 7th) will feature music all day and well into the night. Event takes place at The Cheyenne Saloon (3103 N Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130). Tickets are on sale now and also available at the door until they sell out:

2- day ticket discount price $40
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/533967

Friday only ticket $20
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/672659

Saturday only ticket $30
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/672673

Friday June 6
(first band hits the stage just after 5:00 pm and show ends just after midnight)
Lotus
Spiritual Shepherd
Whores of Tijuana
Wounded Giant
Night Demon
Spiralarms
Big Elf
Satan’s Host

Saturday June 7
Black Prism
Trapped within Burning Machinery
Deathkings
Secrets of the Sky
Godhunter
Spun in Darkness
Demon Lung
Ides of Gemini
Pale Divine
November’s Doom
Acid Witch
Irony Man

— Festival Ends —

Updates can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/doominjune

Pale Divine, Painted Windows Black (2012)