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Six Dumb Questions with Earthride

Posted in Six Dumb Questions on September 11th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

earthride

This week marks the arrival of the first new Earthride release in more than half a decade. The new single, Witch Gun, arrives via Salt of the Earth Records as the follow-up to their third full-length, 2010’s Something Wicked (review here), which brought an expanded melodic palette from what the Frederick, Maryland, doom scene kingpins brought to their earlier work on 2005’s Vampire Circus, 2002’s Taming of the Demons and their initial 2000 self-titled EP, songs like “Destruction Song,” “Watch the Children Play” and the opening title-track itself showing considerable growth on the part of the band, who remain in no small part defined by the unmistakable character and presence of their frontman, Dave Sherman.

Earthride returns in 2017 following a stint on Sherman‘s part first in the reformed trio Spirit Caravan and bozzoven earthride tourthen in The Obsessed that ended following the recording of that band’s 2017 comeback LP, Sacred (review here), but in addition to fronting Weed is Weed, working on the new project Siren of Sorrows, and a history in and impact on Chesapeake doom that rivals the likes of Pentagram‘s own Bobby LieblingSherman is no less defined by his work in Earthride than Earthride is defined by him. The thick grooves he rides so fluidly on vocals on cuts like “Earthride” from the self-titled or “Fighting the Devils Inside of You.” The track “Witch Gun” is no less a part of this pantheon of Earthride landmarks, and perhaps all the more so for the future productivity it might be kicking off.

With the prospect of making a new album for release in 2018 ahead of them, Earthride will hit the road in October alongside unhinged sludge purveyors Buzzov*en. It’s more than a solid match. Both acts are legends in their field and have grit to spare and a reputation for chaos. As Earthride take to stages for the first time with the lineup of Sherman, founding drummer Eric Little (who also was in the lineup for Church of Misery‘s latest LP), guitarist Greg Ball and bassist Edmund Allen Brown, they’ll no doubt be exposing a new generation of listeners to their hugely lumbering grooves and riffs that for the last 17-plus years have more than lived up to their stated ethic of “Pure Maryland Doom for the Brotherhood of Music.” All the better to give their audience a glimpse of what next year might hold in a new release, further touring, and a more fully reborn Earthride.

Sherman was kind enough to discuss all this and more. Please enjoy the following Six Dumb Questions:

earthride-witch-gun

Six Dumb Questions with Dave Sherman of Earthride

Tell me about stepping back into Earthride after being with Spirit Caravan and The Obsessed. How much does Earthride feel like coming home for you? You’ve been doing Weed is Weed all along, but how different is it for you fronting Earthride?

It feels very refreshing especially after I was treated unfairly in The Obsessed. I’ve known Eric Little since we were in high school together. We were in one of our first bands as well — Judgement Hammer — 1986-ish, which was Eric Little drums, Dave Sherman bass, Kelly Carmichael guitar and Billy Rines voice. We played two Pentagram songs the song “Black Sabbath” and three or four originals that later mutated into Internal Void riffs. I love Weed is Weed, which we came out with an EP available digitally [through our] Facebook. Check that out, but fronting the mighty Earthride, getting back at the helm feels real good again.

How did the new lineup for Earthride come together? Who’s in the band now and how have the shows and rehearsals been? Of course you’re working with Kyle Van Steinburg and Eric Little again, but how much has Earthride changed over time for you? How do you feel about how the band has grown?

I was drinking local pub Guido’s in Frederick, Maryland, and I ran into an old friend Edmund Allen Brown. We started talking music and he’s one of the best bass players I’ve ever met and a real go-getter, so I thought what a perfect bass player for Earthride. Greg Ball was in a band Hovel and was willing to try out as the second guitar player and Kyle is gonna be on the 45 new single Witch Gun, out on Salt of the Earth USA and Totem Cat out of France and distribution for Europe, but the new band sounds killer and it feels good to hear the songs again.

You played Maryland Doom Fest in June. How was that experience? Maryland Doom has grown so much since Earthride got going, and of course your history goes back much further than that. How do you feel about where the scene is now and where do you think it’s heading? Does “pure Maryland doom” still mean the same thing for you?

Maryland Doom Fest was so good. Everybody was so into it and so happy to see Earthride again, smiling, cheering, headbanging. It was a pleasant surprise I think because the band’s old and has had a bit of longevity in the scene and we just never got out there as much as we should have. Now that we have the new band and lineup we are fired up about getting out a new album and tour. We are going out with Buzzov*en in October for 10 shows, East Coast, Midwest. Just from the MD Doom Fest standpoint, I think the scene is growing around the world and has grown beyond belief from what it was back in the day, and I want to Thank JB Matson and Mark Cruikshank for having this amazing festival. Cheers.

It’s been seven years since Something Wicked came out and 15 since Taming of the Demons. What can fans expect from the next Earthride album? Where are you in the process of putting it together? Do you know yet who’s doing the recording/producing or has that started? Will the songs from the new single also be on the record?

I have a ton of ideas and so does the rest of the band. We recorded the Witch Gun single at Omega Studio in Rockville, Maryland, so that is probably where we will record the new record at. Out next year. Hopefully working on the material now.

You’re doing the Descendants of Crom fest in Pittsburgh in September, but will Earthride tour for the new album? Any chance you could be headed to the West Coast or Europe in 2018, or is it a wait-and-see kind of deal for when the album comes out?

Yeah, we’re excited about everything we’re about to do and about what we’re trying to conquer which is people’s ears and trying to destroy their subconscious with heavy music. We’re doing the tour with Buzzov*en like I said on the East Coast and Midwest, which is gonna be a blast since they’re old friends of mine, but in 2018 we plan to do some more touring, try to get this new record out there. I would like to get back to Europe with the band and possibly do Roadburn or tour some festivals.

Any other plans or closing words you want to mention?

I appreciate the interview and I would like everybody to be looking for us: Earthride, Weed is Weed and a very new project called Siren of Sorrows which has Starr Piazza on voice from the band Serpent Witch. Thanks and peace.

Earthride, Live at Maryland Doom Fest 2017

Earthride on Thee Facebooks

Salt of the Earth Records website

Salt of the Earth Records on Thee Facebooks

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Earthride Sign to Salt of the Earth Records; Announce New Single and Album

Posted in Whathaveyou on April 6th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

Makes sense for frontman Dave Sherman to bring back Earthride after splitting earlier this year with The Obsessed. That’s kind of how Earthride got going the first time, though their debut EP was released before Spirit Caravan‘s initial run came to its end. In any case, it’s a bit of symmetry in how it’s all shaken out that brings the news Earthride have hooked up with the growing roster of Salt of the Earth Records — see also ScissorfightAtalaCortez, and so on — and that they’ll have a new single out this year with a full-length to follow in 2018, also on Totem Cat in Europe. Obviously, whenever it shows up, new Earthride is sure to measure on the Richter scale in Maryland.

Speaking of that crabbiest of states, we already knew Earthride will take part in this year’s Maryland Doom Fest (info here) in June. They’re also set for the inaugural Descendants of Crom festival in Pittsburgh, PA, this September (info here), so I believe the PR wire — not the least because I wrote the press release — when it says more live dates are forthcoming. I haven’t seen the band since they were out supporting 2010’s Something Wicked (review here), and as they’re rolling with a new lineup and working for the first time ever as a dual-guitar five-piece, it seems like all the more reason to catch up to what Sherman and Co. have going.

Here’s the announcement I wrote circled back through the PR wire:

earthride

The Return of EARTHRIDE

Maryland Doom’s Favorite Sons Sign to Salt of the Earth; Announce New Album

Today, SALT OF THE EARTH RECORDS is proud to announce the signing of Maryland doom legends EARTHRIDE to its growing roster of acts. Led by inimitable frontman Dave Sherman (Spirit Caravan, Weed is Weed, The Obsessed), a new lineup of Earthride has been holed up at Omega Recording Studios in Rockville, MD, and will release a new 7” later this year with a full-length to follow in 2018.

“The band has really come a long way and Salt of the Earth Records and Earthride are about to burn up the road and deliver the doom!” enthuses Sherman, who is joined the band by co-founders Kyle Van Steinburg (guitar) and drummer Eric Little (also Church of Misery, Internal Void), as well as newcomers Ed Brown (bass) and Greg Ball (guitar), who came aboard as the group reformed to work on its first new material in seven years since 2010’s Something Wicked LP for release on Salt of the Earth and Totem Cat Records in Europe.

Earthride’s return – and their first incarnation ever as a five-piece – will be celebrated this summer at Maryland Doom Fest 2017, where they will join the likes of heavy prog immortals Captain Beyond, Trouble offshoot The Skull, Bang, Place of Skulls, Wo Fat and more at Café 611 in Frederick, MD, on June 23-25. Plans are in the works for further touring to support the new single (title still to be revealed) and their impending fourth full-length.

In the meantime, Earthride have been playing local shows this winter and spring and writing their heaviest material yet. Their place among their scene’s most influential bands has long been secure, and as they look to the future, it’s with renewed vigor and purpose that they continue to abide by their longstanding ethic of delivering Pure Maryland Doom for the Brotherhood of Music.

Grip the wheel of death and be ready for the all-heavy: EARTHRIDE are back.

https://www.facebook.com/EARTHRIDEDOOM
https://www.saltoftheearthrecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SaltOfTheEarthRec

Earthride, “God’s Own Medicine”

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