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Review & Track Premiere: Deathwhite, Grey Everlasting

Posted in audiObelisk, Reviews on April 7th, 2022 by JJ Koczan

Deathwhite Grey Everlasting

[Click play above to stream the premiere of Deathwhite’s ‘No Thought or Memory.’ Album preorders are available here. The band says, “‘No Thought or Memory’ details the opioid epidemic ravaging the United States and the perils of addiction. It is well documented how pharmaceutical companies have made billions by getting people hooked on their substances. The fact that they have gotten away with it for so long is reprehensible, but how quickly prescription drug abuse can destroy lives and families is even worse. The amount of lives affected is untold and there is no end in sight.”]

Anonymous Pittsburgh melodic death-doom hood-bearers Deathwhite release their third full-length, Grey Everlasting, June 10 through Season of Mist. In some ways, it is business as usual for the unknown parties involved in the band. The core of their sound remains intact in honing a style that is richly and morosely melodic, recalling the depressive craft of mid-period Katatonia especially but having increasingly made it their own over the last decade; their first full-length, 2017’s For a Black Tomorrow (review here), serving as the impetus for the Season of Mist pickup and re-release early the next year, while early-2020’s Grave Image (review here) fostered vibes that were only well at home in the darkest of winter and the resoundingly bleak Spring that followed. Grey Everlasting, with production once again from Shane Meyer and Art Paiz — instruments at Cerebral Audio and vocals at Erik Rutan‘s Mana Recording, respectively — invariably carries much of their sound forward into its new collection of 11 songs. Even the cover art by Jérôme Comentale is a consistent presence from both albums prior and then some. For those who’ve followed Deathwhite over their now 10-year arc, they reaffirm the depressive melodic doom metal that’s expected of them.

They also expand on it. The intro “Nihil,” in just 97 seconds, signals a shift in focus toward keyboard orchestrations, setting an expanded foundation for the tracks that lead-single “Earthtomb” soon answers in an initial blastbeaten burst and one of Grey Everlasting‘s most memorable hooks. This uptick in keys continues throughout and strengthens songs like “No Thought or Memory” (premiering below), the last piece of the opening salvo “Quietly, Suddenly,” or the later “Formless,” bolstering the impact of the guitar, bass and drums while enhancing the often-harmonized vocals that are by now a signature aspect of Deathwhite‘s approach. Correspondingly, Grey Everlasting is the most extreme album the band have done to-date, as the double-kick drumming in “Earthtomb” and “No Thought or Memory” is a foreshadow of “White Sleep” and “Immemorial” at the center of the tracklist. The former follows the title-cut and is an immediately meaner shove, pulling back from its ferocity for the verse but seeming extra tense in the crashes there, as though sending a subliminal signal of where it’s ultimately headed.

It’s as though, having been saddled with a perceived death metal influence to some degree or other over their prior releases, Deathwhite decided to really dive into it in more than just those first measures of “Earthtomb.” The vocals in the second half of “White Sleep” become more guttural. They’re still clean on the whole — it’s not an all-out growl — but the change is remarkable and resonates with the more intense instrumental turn surrounding. “White Sleep” settles down in its final movement, bringing the residual pummel in the drums together with the keyboard, and “Immemorial” doesn’t give away the plot right away, but at 2:36 into its total 4:06, the drums signal a change and growing whispers far back in the mix more fully depart from the ultra-clean delivery, soon joined by layers of growling and screaming both.

deathwhite (Photo by Shane Mayer)

In the context of the song itself and the 47 minutes of Grey Everlasting as a whole, it’s a relatively minor stretch of time — doesn’t even last until the finish of the song — but just by being there, it expands the reach of record and band alike, and it means that the aggressive threat that’s seemed to underlie Deathwhite‘s material all along has been real. The effect is such that when the double-kick starts in “So We Forget” after “Formless,” it’s that much harder to know what kind of shift is coming. It makes Deathwhite a more versatile band.

In that regard, one can also point to the use of space throughout Grey Everlasting. Similar to how they’ve always incorporated ideas from death metal, Deathwhite have always been atmospheric — at very least you would say their songwriting does not want for mood — but the standalone drums in the first half of the penultimate “Blood and Ruin,” or the open-sounding patient manner in which the title-track unfolds, the echo there on guitar, snare and vocals alike. Even “Nihil” and “Earthtomb” demonstrate the greater breadth that Grey Everlasting seems to evoke in its sound, the latter layering a solo over its central rhythm not by forcing it to squeeze in ahead of the vocals, but by using the room that was there already — same thing goes for the keys coming forward between vocal lines. And before it arrives in the final chug that caps the record, six-minute closer and longest track “Asunder” does not neglect this element either, as its steady progression of verse and chorus give over to a stretch of acoustic guitar before the vocals and guitar return and herald the aforementioned payoff, allowing for one last moment of quiet and thereby furthering its own summary of who Deathwhite are at this pivotal stage in their development.

Let’s be honest. To a certain degree, those who’ve heard either of the Deathwhite full-lengths before Grey Everlasting should have some idea of what’s coming in these songs, and their consistency is an asset in acting as the ground upon which they build. And part of that is the emotionality of the songs. That is not lessened for the more extreme parts nor overblown by an increase in the lushness of the instrumental melodies. Whether it’s the sharper lead guitar line in “No Thought or Memory” or the cavernous scope in the beginnings of “Blood and Ruin,” Deathwhite not only sound more sure of that ground, but confident in the new ideas being presented. That combination makes Grey Everlasting the broadest Deathwhite release yet, and speaks of new life even when so much feels dystopian and disconnected outside the music. I won’t call a record titled Grey Everlasting hopeful, but the songs are a comfort and a catharsis in kind. Even as they seem so steady in their miseries, there’s room for beauty and brutality alike.

Deathwhite, Grey Everlasting (2022)

Deathwhite on Facebook

Deathwhite on Bandcamp

Deathwhite website

Season of Mist website

Season of Mist on Facebook

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Deathwhite Set June 10 Release for Grey Everlasting; New Video Posted

Posted in Whathaveyou on March 9th, 2022 by JJ Koczan

deathwhite (Photo by Shane Mayer)

I’m not saying I made this happen or anything, but I did email Season of Mist yesterday and ask what was going on with this record, because frankly, I just couldn’t take not knowing anymore. One way or the other, the press release below is my answer about anonymous Pittsburgh melodic death-doomers Deathwhite‘s impending third album, Grey Everlasting, which follows 2020’s Grave Image (review here) and 2018’s For a Black Tomorrow (review here) and is set to issue on June 10. Preorders, the cover art, track info and a video for post-intro lead cut “Earthtomb” are available below, and no, I haven’t sent another email to the label yet harassingly asking to premiere a song with a review, but I kind of feel like that’s only because I’m too busy typing this out first.

This is a band I really dig, and I’ve been looking forward to this album since they announced last June that they were working on it, let alone when they finished in October. Have to wonder if the June release date is just for pressing concerns or if it might coincide with some manner of touring domestically or abroad, but whatever. The title-track sounds like what I’ve been wishing Katatonia would put out forever, and for today I’m gonna just dig in here and enjoy it. You can do likewise with the new video.

Still have no idea who they are, by the way. That’s some impressively-maintained anonymity.

From the PR wire:

Deathwhite Grey Everlasting

DEATHWHITE Reveals New Album Details, Shares Official Music Video for New Song

Enigmatic dark metal outfit DEATHWHITE will be releasing their third full-length, ‘Grey Everlasting,’ on June 10 via Season of Mist! The band is now sharing the devastating first single, “Earthtomb,” along with a music video! The heart-wrenching video, which was created by Guilherme Henriques, can be found at THIS LOCATION.

DEATHWHITE comments:
“It is our abundant pleasure to share the video for ‘Earthtomb,’ the first single from ‘Grey Everlasting.’ The immaculate Guilherme Henriques shot the clip in Aceredo, Spain and Porto, Portugal. Unfortunately, the song and video are a rather timely and direct reflection of the times we live when unchecked power, deception, gas-lighting and flat-out lies are used as tools to wreak havoc upon humanity and sow discord.

“‘Earthtomb’ was written as our observation — and inherent wish — that these individuals succumb to their misdeeds. What is happening in Ukraine at the moment has, for the members of Deathwhite, made this song more prescient than ever. Our hearts go out to those impacted by this utter tragedy.”

‘Grey Everlasting’ will follow up 2020’s critically-acclaimed ‘Grave Image.’

‘Grey Everlasting’ is available to pre-order HERE: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/deathwhite-grey-everlasting
and can be pre-saved to your streaming library HERE: https://orcd.co/greyeverlasting

The cover was created by Jérôme Comentale.

Tracklist:
1. Nihil (01:37)
2. Earthtomb (05:06)
3. No Thought or Memory (04:08)
4. Quietly, Suddenly (04:38)
5. Grey Everlasting (03:51)
6. White Sleep (04:22)
7. Immemorial (04:05)
8. Formless (03:35)
9. So We Forget (05:15)
10. Blood and Ruin (04:58)
11. Asunder (06:21)
Total run-time: 48:03

http://www.facebook.com/deathwhiteofficial
https://deathwhite.bandcamp.com/
http://deathwhite.com/
http://www.season-of-mist.com/
https://www.facebook.com/seasonofmistofficial/

Deathwhite, “Earthtomb” official video

Deathwhite, Grave Image (2020)

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Deathwhite Complete Work on Grey Everlasting; Album Out Next Year

Posted in Whathaveyou on October 20th, 2021 by JJ Koczan

Whatever else Deathwhite‘s Grey Everlasting might be when it finally surfaces through Season of Mist sometime hopefully circa June 2022, I have little doubt it will be one of the most accurately descriptive titles to see release next year. If you heard 2020’s pre-pandemic opus, Grave Image (review here), you know what I’m talking about. The anonymous, Pittsburgh-based four-piece recorded instrumental tracks with Shane Mayer at Cerebral Audio Productions — who also helmed Grave Image and the band’s 2018 debut, For a Black Tomorrow (review here) — and shifted locales to Mana Recording in Florida to do vocals and mixing with Art Paiz. Some dude named Dan Swanö — no big deal or anything but yes most definitely a big deal — did the master.

No, I haven’t heard it yet, apart from the little mixing snippet posted down under their update below. You think it would be tacky for me to hit up the label this early? Probably. On the other hand, I’ve never really been much for class, and with winter looming, it sure does seem like the kind of thing to keep cold with. Alas, maybe I’ll get there or maybe I’ll chicken out and listen to the last record again instead. Should be interesting to have Grey Everlasting show up in Springtime though, if that’s indeed how it works out.

The band was relatively succinct in confirming completion:

deathwhite

DEATHWHITE – ‘Grey Everlasting’ Album Update

It is with distinct pleasure to share that Grey Everlasting has been handed over to the esteemed Season of Mist for a late spring/early summer 2022 release. While we are sworn to secrecy on the album’s particulars, we can share that it features 11 songs, including an instrumental.

Grey Everlasting is our longest album to date but also includes some of our shortest songs. To coin a term from our U.K. friends, we are properly “chuffed” with the album, but, of course, you, the fair, trusted listening audience, will make your determination in due time. – DW

http://www.facebook.com/deathwhiteofficial
https://deathwhite.bandcamp.com/
http://deathwhite.com/
http://www.season-of-mist.com/
https://www.facebook.com/seasonofmistofficial/

Deathwhite, “No Thought or Memory” mixing snippet

Deathwhite, Grave Image (2020)

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Deathwhite Recording New Album Grey Everlasting

Posted in Whathaveyou on June 11th, 2021 by JJ Koczan

Pittsburgh melancholic doomers Deathwhite are currently recording their new album, Grey Everlasting, for release not nearly soon enough through Season of Mist. Early last year, the mystery-lineup outfit issued Grave Image (review here) as their second long-player. It was some eight months between the announcement of those recordings and the record’s Jan. 31, 2020, release, so if they keep the same timeline, maybe Feb. 2022, sooner if we’re lucky?

I’ll take it whenever it comes, don’t get me wrong, but the sooner the better. The wildly undervalued outfit only solidified their songwriting even as compared to their 2018 debut, For a Black Tomorrow (review here), which if you click that link and even skim the review, you’ll see I was a total dork for. I expect much the same will be the case when Grey Everlasting — not to be confused with Evergrey; whatever happened to Evergrey?; still kicking, apparently — turns up. Here’s looking forward.

And kudos to them not fixing what wasn’t broken in terms of the production team. I was really hoping they’d be on Maryland Doom Fest one of these years, but so far no dice.

From the PR wire:

deathwhite recording

DEATHWHITE Enters Studio to Record Third Full-Length, ‘Grey Everlasting’

Enigmatic dark metal outfit DEATHWHITE have entered Cerebral Audio Productions with producer/engineer Shane Mayer to track their third full-length album, ‘Grey Everlasting!’

Comments the band: “It is our pleasure to share we are in the throes of recording our third album, ‘Grey Everlasting.’ We have opted for continuity between studio albums: The same people responsible for bringing ‘Grave Image’ to life will do the same for ‘Grey Everlasting.’ This includes the esteemed Mr. Mayer, who, in his third studio go-round with us, is more invaluable than ever. We will be tracking vocals in July at Mana Recording in Saint Petersburg, Florida, under the supervision of Art Paiz. Mastering duties will fall onto the legendary Dan Swanö (BLOODBATH, EDGE OF SANITY). And, lastly, the artwork will be handled by Jérôme Comentale, who has created our prior three albums covers.

“While we have assembled a familiar cast of characters, ‘Grey Everlasting,’ to our ears, is by no means a rehash of ‘Grave Image.’ We have introduced some new elements, some of which can be described as ‘extreme.’ The songs are also doomier and more atmospheric in their approach while retaining our core stylistic traits. We did the bulk of the songwriting during the pandemic’s darkest and most isolating moments. It is our belief such feelings resonate throughout the album’s 11 songs. In the meantime, we greatly look forward to sharing them with you and wish everyone continued safety.”

http://www.facebook.com/deathwhiteofficial
https://deathwhite.bandcamp.com/
http://deathwhite.com/
http://www.season-of-mist.com/
https://www.facebook.com/seasonofmistofficial/

Deathwhite, Grave Image (2020)

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