On Jan. 20, Portland, Oregon, heavy cave-thrash doom trio Ash Eater will release their new single ‘The Siren’s Call’ as a precursor to their soon-to-be-announced six-song sophomore long-player. It is the second track to be featured from the self-issued album behind “Any Port in a Storm,” and a quicker encapsulation of their sound at its fiercest as represented on the 33-minute, title-not-yet-revealed-but-it’ll-be-out-in-March record, picking up from the doomier opener “Earth Must Be Fed” before higher-speed riffs contort and twist in restless thrash tradition with the barking vocals of bassist Kenny Coombs (also of LáGoon and their grungy offshoot Oopsy Dazey) meting out verses like a 1983 demo tape that just happened to invent death metal or something, and a blowout vibe that extends even to the Metallica-style snare militarism of Alden Elias as the song careens to its finish.

“The Siren’s Call” is the shortest of the non-intro cuts on the record, and where “Any Port in a Storm” brings some element of NWOBHM to the guitar, if both dirtied and sped up. The remaining three songs are all longer. “Ritual” explores shifts in tempo around the core roughness of the sound and an especially dug-in solo from guitarist Andrew Pugh, and a delve into heavy jamming that builds over “Breathe the Smoke” and the slow-rolling-until-it-isn’t “The Warrior’s Craze,” which hypnotizes with circa five minutes of Sleepy stonerian march before launching its full assault, which feels Californian in its use of double kick but retains its Pacific Northwestern strut in the lead guitar.

The album may not have a name yet, at least publicly, but it does have a lot more going on than it at first seems, so as you take on “The Siren’s Call” premiering on the player below, keep it in mind as a beginning more than an end, because it very much is, both in terms of understanding Ash Eater‘s stylistic intention — there is essential information in these thrashing riffs! — and in terms of where it sits in the record’s rollout. Short songs or long, jammed out or throw-an-elbow thrashed, the follow-up to Ash Eater‘s debut is marked by an immediate individuality in its presentation, and where one’s head in considering ‘heavy thrash’ as a concept goes to earlier High on Fire, that’s a small piece of what’s happening here.

But, as we’re a good way away from the album’s arrival, a small piece doubles as a convenient sample. Have at “The Siren’s Call, and please enjoy:

Ash Eater – The Siren’s Call – Single to be self-released Jan 20, 2024 on Digital

New LP out this March, to be announced

Boardsliding their way out of the murky depths of the Portland heavy scene, Ash Eater arrive on their wheeled steeds with crushed beer in one hand and a flaming guitar promising nothing but sweet riffs in the other.

The trio of skaters, fronted by the bassist for fellow PDX acts LáGoon and Oopsy Dazey, deal in a ferocious mix of doom metal, thrash, and grubby psychedelia that congeals into a riotous sound as fit for a skate session as it is for a smoke-fogged mosh. Featured in Thrasher magazine and infamous for starting some rowdy pit action in the bowl at Tactics’ Northwest Open skating fest, Ash Eater are climbing the rock ‘n roll mountain, and are set to plant their flag with a second LP due out this March.

Heralding their upcoming album, we’re proud to present Ash Eater’s thrashy second single “The Siren’s Call”, following up the on their first single “Any Port In A Storm” and its classic metal riffing.

IN THE BAND’S OWN WORDS:

“The Siren’s Call – A song for all the ladies lurking in the musty depths of the metal scene and for all the sad saps that think they’re getting lucky tonight. When you catch her eye best say goodbye cause the only way out is to die.”

Ash Eater is:
Kenny Coombs – Bass/Vocals
Andrew Pugh – Guitar
Alden Elias – Drums

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