Some videos just have it all, man. Drug innuendo, psychedelic booty dancing, a swirling drummer, tripped out ’90s-type digital effects, Orange stacks, the Buddha. The list goes on. Such is the case with “Never Wanted,” the first featured new track from NYC heavy rock trio Thinning the Herd‘s new full-length, Freedom from the Known. The three-piece, led by guitarist/vocalist Gavin Spielman (who also directed the video), put the album to tape with none other than Steve Albini and are expecting a release by the end of the year.

Mixed by bassist Wes Edmonds, it’s the most natural sound I’ve heard yet from the band, who issued their Oceans Rise debut last year (review here), and it seems that together with drummer Rick Cimato, Edmonds and Spielman have been able to tap into the rawness of sound the band has always been begging for while still conveying the strong core of songwriting that carries through their approach. Aside from the video being killer, it makes me look forward to hearing the album when the time comes.

Here’s “Never Wanted” followed by the album release info, courtesy of the ol’ PR wire:

Thinning the Herd, “Never Wanted”

New York-based THINNING THE HERD announces the completion of their new studio full-length as they plan for its liberation into the general population before the end of the year.

Over the Summer, the band shacked up with studio guru Steven Albini to harness the newest tunes for what will be the metallic doom/rock act’s third studio effort. Entitled Freedom From The Known, the ten-song crusher features an entirely new and improved THINNING THE HERD lineup, revamped once again by founding member Gavin Spielman and now including drummer Rick Cimato (ex-Locked In A Vacancy) and bassist Wes Edmonds. An act constantly striving to not be pigeonholed as “another doom band,”’ the newest material reflects more of the members’ blues and NYHC influences, though the presence of classic doom metal and 90’s grunge/sludge influences still shine through, and alien life forms, motorcycles, ego death, higher consciousness, transcendentalism and racism are just a few of the issues touched upon lyrically. Freedom From The Known is due out in December on the band’s own Saint Marks Records as with their previous album and EP.

Freedom From The Known Track Listing:
1. Never Wanted
2. Dr. Reed
3. Sludge
4. Buildings
5. Rabbits
6. White Liver
7 Blood
8. Path of Gold
9. Gaikat Mountain
10. In Front Of Me

New York City is always wanting for bullshit-free rock and roll, and joining the thin ranks of those trafficking in it is the trio Thinning the Herd, whose debut full-length, Oceans Rise, is a quick eight tracks of sans-frills doom rock. Led by guitarist/vocalist Gavin Spielman – who seems as ready at any given moment to unleash a killer riff as he is to rip a solo – Thinning the Herd transcend the C.O.C.-isms that made up so much of their prior Devil Mask EP, keeping the groove but putting a more individual stamp on it. Bassist Nick Lee throws exceptional fills in to complement Spielman’s playing, and drummer Ben Proudman lands heavy on his snare to ground the material and keep the pacing fluid. As a trio, they work well together across the album, and at a quick 34-plus minutes, Oceans Rise (released via St. Mark’s Records) has a few standout tracks of which anyone hungering for a break from the onslaught of hipstamatic Big Apple indie rockers calling themselves psychedelic should be aware.

There’s a darker edge in Spielman’s guitar tone, not so much fuzz, and it’s mostly for that reason that I hesitate to call Thinning the Herd a stoner band, but there’s no mistaking that they’re both heavy and riff-led – which is more than enough for many to make the designation. Oceans Rise launches with its title-track, a slower, doomier number that hints some at the band’s songwriting prowess. Lee gives one of several really strong bass performances (he also proves his abilities as a member of tech-weirdos Exemption), and Spielman’s gruff-but-clean vocals set a pattern that continues throughout the ensuing cuts. It’d be easy to liken it to Deliverance or Wiseblood-era Pepper Keenan, but even comparing Oceans Rise to Devil Mask, it’s clear he’s growing into his voice and becoming more of his own singer. Doubtless confidence is a part of that and he’ll continue to develop over future Thinning the Herd releases, but there’s plenty engaging about his work on the catchy “Look Behind” and the even-riffier “Defiler,” which is a highlight not only for Spielman’s layering, but Lee’s running lines as well and the conviction that seems to be in Proudman’s mashing of his hi-hat. As “Chill in the Air” wraps the first half of Oceans Rise, it’s with more strong rhythm section interplay and another well-crafted chorus.

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Seems like easy math, but if there’s one thing in this world I like, it’s a band from New York City that doesn’t suck. There’s a couple out there, to be sure, but the five boroughs are awash in acts who blow hipster chunks all over the place in some kind of fashion show of who can out-horrible each other, and quality rock is a boon when you find it — which is why I’m into Thinning the Herd. They don’t suck. It’s a pretty simple formula.

As the PR wire previously informed, the NYC trio — led by guitarist/vocalist Gavin Spielman — will release their new full-length, Oceans Rise, this coming Tuesday, April 5, and because I dig the band and because the opportunity to do so was offered, I thought I’d share with you the closing track from the album, “On Fire.” It rules more than a little bit.

Stream it on the player below:

[mp3player width=460 height=130 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=thinning-the-herd.xml]

In case you’re too lazy to click that link above, here’s the info for Oceans Rise again:

Set for release on April 5, 2011, via NYC-based St. Mark’s Records, the eight-song rager Oceans Rise boasts the band’s soulful brew of grunge-fueled, blues-driven, stoner-infused rock, and was put on tape by the engineering masters at Seizures Palace in Brooklyn (Child Abuse, Swans, OvO, Dresden Dolls). The album surges with soul over its 35-minute life span, alive with groove and stories, inciting a trampled but triumphant sense of survival and good times.

Oceans Rise tracklisting:
1. Oceans Rise
2. Look Behind
3. Defiler
4. Chill in the Air
5. Binge
6. Wide Crossing
7. My Wake
8. On Fire

Buried Treasure and live review veterans Thinning the Herd are apparently on the cusp of releasing a new full-length. According to the PR wire, their new album, Oceans Rise, will be issued April 5, but that’s not stopping the band from playing a release show next Thursday at Europa in Brooklyn. So maybe they’re a little ahead of themselves. Whatever. Maybe if you’re nice they’ll let you buy a copy at the gig.

PR wire sends love and this:

Set for release on April 5, 2011, via NYC-based St. Mark’s Records, the eight-song rager Oceans Rise boasts Thinning the Herd’s soulful brew of grunge-fueled, blues-driven, stoner-infused rock, and was put on tape by the engineering masters at Seizures Palace in Brooklyn (Child Abuse, Swans, OvO, Dresden Dolls). The album surges with soul over its 35-minute life span, alive with groove and stories, inciting a trampled but triumphant sense of survival and good times.

Thinning the Herd’s Oceans Rise record release show:
03/10 Europa Brooklyn, NY w/ God’s Green Earth, Hovel, and Cold Fur