The Pale Hand Post Debut Single “Reign in Hell”
I was watching the ‘Space Seed’ episode of the original Star Trek the other night — as one will — and they made this same Milton reference, about it being better to rule in hell than serve in heaven. It’s a good one, and a pretty famous line as far as that kind of thing goes. Religion. Storybooks.
The Pale Hand are a newcomer proto-doom/doom rock/trad metal outfit with an apparent theatrical bent from New York City, and if that description put you in immediate mind of Castle Rat, whose horror show has been the Big Apple’s most vibrant doom export in recent memory, that’s probably fair enough. The bio below drops the name as well in a ‘played with’ context, and fair enough for a band starting out trying to make their name, put up their first song, and try to catch eyes and ears onto what they’re doing.
The track is called “Reign in Hell,” and there’s a video reportedly on the way. Will keep an eye out for that, but the song itself is tight and aesthetically aware of what its groove wants to do. Vocalist Kelsea Beck establishes a marked presence up front, plus reach, and the riff accompanying has crunch and push in kind. As first impressions go, it’s a burner. Big slowdown at the end is worth sticking around for, as is the boogie that follows.
Heads up from the PR wire:
NYC Doomers THE PALE HAND Release Debut Single, “Reign in Hell”
NYC Doomers, The Pale Hand, have released “Reign in Hell,” the band’s debut single, on all digital platforms. Click to stream below!
palehand.bandcamp.com/track/reign-in-hell
open.spotify.com/track/18R3sO6L9zKlRl5NS1Ijc3
music.apple.com/us/song/reign-in-hell/1813213799
The band will release a music video for the single on June 20!
Like a love letter to old school heavy metal, The Pale Hand’s debut single, “Reign in Hell,” serves up fuzz-drenched riffs, a high energy groove, and lyrics inspired by Lucifer’s fall from heaven. It’s a sinister, psychedelic, and thunderous descent into madness showcasing the group’s unique take on doom—including a breakdown heavy enough to shake Grandma’s grave.
Lyrically, the song is a lapsed theologian’s wet dream. Christian doctrine asserts that free will is humankind’s unique gift, something not even angels possess. Therefore, the logical conclusion follows that in his so-called rebellion, Lucifer only played the role his creator intended for him, and was doomed to be cast into hell before he was ever made. “Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven,” a freshly exiled Satan proclaims in John Milton’s Paradise Lost while considering this injustice.
Milton famously humanized Satan in his epic work, arguably even placing him as the hero of the story, and The Pale Hand has gladly carried his torch into the 21st century, complete with vicious guitars, powerhouse vocals, and booming bass. In the end, it’s a match made in hell — after all, heaven’s overrated.
With members hailing from around the globe, The Pale Hand is a cross-cultural heavy metal phenomenon taking New York City’s underground by storm, sharing stages with Castle Rat and Alex Skolnick of Testament. To witness The Pale Hand live is to be baptized in the church of the undead; a vampire pastor gives blood offering before the first song is played and expects to be repaid before the night is over. With a wide range of influences beyond metal, including gospel and middle eastern music, their show is theatrical, interactive, even spiritual, and they use their music to explore the question “what really is evil?” In The Pale Hand’s world, the sinner is the saint, and corruption is the true enemy.
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The Pale Hand is a heavy metal quintet led by a genderless vampire pastor. With each member hailing from a different corner of the world, their influences span a wide range beyond metal, including gospel and middle eastern music. Once you’ve been inducted into their church of Sabbathian riffage and blood ceremony, there’s no turning back—but why would you want to?
Line-up:
Kelsea Beck (they/them) – Vocals
Pamir Aysan (he/him) – Guitar
Diego Silva (he/him) – Guitar
Finnegan Hu (he/him) – Bass
Brian Del Guercio (he/him) – Drums
Photo Credit: Gannon Padgett
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