Wyoming Young and Strong Announce Bend the Night 7″ EP
Seattle post-metallers Wyoming Young and Strong will release their new EP, Bend the Night, on March 31 digitally and follow-up with a 7″ vinyl version on April 20. The release contains three songs, and they’re pretty short, with two on side B under three minutes each and the longer title-track on side A, and it’s the first the formerly-all-Josh duo/now-with-a-Jason trio have been heard from since 2021’s impressive debut album, Black Wire (review here), which took elements of noise rock and heavy-progged ’em up with more than an edge of aggression to suit, managing to stay atmospheric all the while. Something of a tightrope to walk for a relatively new band, and despite the brevity, I’d expect Bend the Night to expand outward either along the same lines or, you never know, maybe take a radical turn and do another thing entirely. Maybe they’re part punk. Who’s to say?
Not me, clearly. I got files to check out but there’s some technical glitch to be worked out in terms of the bitrate of the audio, so it sounds pretty rough as I try to dig in. The intensity comes through, however, and the band seem to be continuing with the barrage the album started. [EDIT: Got fixed files, and indeed it’s a basher and much fuller sounding than the low bitrate version; gotta know your mp3s, folks.] No way am I about to complain about it. I’m not sure if bassist Jason actually appears on the recording — the EP art only lists Josh Williams and Josh Engelhardt, but there’s time to clarify as we get closer to the digital and physical releases. Don’t worry about it, is what I’m saying. Mostly to myself.
From the PR wire:
Wyoming Young and Strong – ‘Bend the Night EP’
Release Date: Digital Friday 3/31/23 and physical release of seven inch on 4/20/23
A lone hero in a world that seems pit against him, Wyoming traveled the universe after his home was destroyed by ancient titans. On his adventures, Wyoming has challenged mystical shamans, travelled through time to worlds of ice and gloom and unrest, and grappled with his own mortality in the lonely black of space. Continually tried by ancient magic, Wyoming struggled and survived despite arcane forces that seemed to perpetually test him.
After learning the tales of their ancient extra-dimensional brother, Wyoming Young and Strong took up the challenge of bringing the lost folk songs of this epic hero to our world. They hope his stories will guide others and make sense of the frustrations of youth and burdens of strength in a dwindling America. Josh, Jason, and Josh have arranged these songs in the tradition of Bass, Drums, Guitar, and Vocals. As the ancient seers before them, they deliver these songs to you in a way that aspires to make Wyoming proud.
Recorded by Jeffery McNulty at the Killroom Studio in May 2022. Mixed by Jeffery McNulty. Mastered by Levi Seitz at Black Belt Mastering. Art by Brian Kim.
Tracklist:
1. Bend the Night
2. Artifice
3. Winter War
Wyoming Young and Strong is Josh Williams and Josh Engelhardt.
https://www.facebook.com/seattlemetal
https://www.instagram.com/wyomingyoungandstrong/
https://wyomingyoungandstrong.bandcamp.com/
