Deafheaven
Encyclopedia
Deafheaven is an American black metal band that formed in 2010. The group signed to Deathwish Inc.
and released their debut album Roads to Judah
in April 2011.
with vocalist George Clarke and guitarist Kerry McCoy, who previously performed in a grindcore
band together. The two members recorded a demo in April 2010 at Atomic Garden Studios, which was released both on cassette tape in limited quantities and digitally. The untitled demo featured four songs that combined traditional screamo
with black metal
and post-rock
. Originally, Deafheaven didn't intend to release the material, but they later sent it out to a few of their favorite blogs. After the demo had been positively received, Clarke and McCoy recruited three additional musicians—bassist Derek Prine, guitarist Nick Bassett of the shoegaze band Whirr (formerly Whirl), and drummer Trevor Deschryver, who responded to an ad on Craigslist
—to form a five-piece group, and started playing their first shows in July 2010.
Deafheaven announced they had signed to Deathwish Inc.
in December 2010—a label which was founded by Converge
's vocalist Jacob Bannon
. Deathwish contacted Deafheaven, and originally only wanted to give their demo a wide physical release. By this point, the group already had some new material written and asked if Deathwish could release both the demo and the new material. The first release that Deafheaven released through Deathwish Inc. was a 7" vinyl single that featured "Libertine Dissolves" and "Daedalus," two songs that were taken from the group's demo. The single was pressed in a limited quantity and sent out as a gift to random people that made a purchase from Deathwish's webstore.
Their debut album, Roads to Judah
was released on April 26, 2011 through Deathwish. The title of the album is a reference to the N Judah
light rail that provides transportation in Deafheaven's hometown, and lyrically the album is about Clarke's "year of substance abuse and debauchery." Roads to Judah received positive reviews from Decibel and RVA Magazine
. To promote the album, Deafheaven performed at Austin, Texas' SXSW festival in March 2011, toured the United States with the Canadian noise rock
band KEN mode
in June 2011, and performed at California's Sound and Fury Festival in July 2011. In November 2011, Deafheaven toured the US with the post-rock band Russian Circles
, followed by a European tour in February 2012.
As a part of Deathwish Inc's free live album series, Deafheaven released Live at The Blacktop in July 2011. The album featured an entire live performance from the band's live performance on January 15, 2011 in Bell Gardens, California at The Blacktop—a former loading dock
converted into a venue.
By September 2011, Deafheaven had begun writing new music for a potential split album, EP or full-length. McCoy described the material as being "faster, darker, a lot heavier and far more experimental" than Roads to Judah.
Deathwish Inc.
Deathwish, Inc. is a independent record label founded by Jacob Bannon and Tre McCarthy. The label was originally used to release early albums by Bannon's own band Converge starting in late 1991. It wasn't until late 1999 that McCarthy and Bannon discussed turning Deathwish into a full-fledged label...
and released their debut album Roads to Judah
Roads to Judah
Roads to Judah is the debut studio album by the American rock band Deafheaven. The album was released by Deathwish Inc. on April 26, 2011. Roads to Judah was recorded in four days between December 2010 and January 2011.- Track listing :...
in April 2011.
History
Deafheaven formed in February 2010 in San Francisco, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with vocalist George Clarke and guitarist Kerry McCoy, who previously performed in a grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
band together. The two members recorded a demo in April 2010 at Atomic Garden Studios, which was released both on cassette tape in limited quantities and digitally. The untitled demo featured four songs that combined traditional screamo
Screamo
Screamo, though used loosely to generally describe music that features screamed vocals, is actually a musical subgenre of hardcore punk which predominantly evolved from emo, among other genres, in the early 1990s...
with black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
and post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
. Originally, Deafheaven didn't intend to release the material, but they later sent it out to a few of their favorite blogs. After the demo had been positively received, Clarke and McCoy recruited three additional musicians—bassist Derek Prine, guitarist Nick Bassett of the shoegaze band Whirr (formerly Whirl), and drummer Trevor Deschryver, who responded to an ad on Craigslist
Craigslist
Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities featuring free online classified advertisements, with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, résumés, and discussion forums....
—to form a five-piece group, and started playing their first shows in July 2010.
Deafheaven announced they had signed to Deathwish Inc.
Deathwish Inc.
Deathwish, Inc. is a independent record label founded by Jacob Bannon and Tre McCarthy. The label was originally used to release early albums by Bannon's own band Converge starting in late 1991. It wasn't until late 1999 that McCarthy and Bannon discussed turning Deathwish into a full-fledged label...
in December 2010—a label which was founded by Converge
Converge (band)
Converge is an American band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and metal since 1990, Converge has helped to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre.-Description:...
's vocalist Jacob Bannon
Jacob Bannon
Jacob Bannon is the vocalist, lyricist, and graphic artist for the American metalcore band Converge. He is also the founder and owner of the label Deathwish Inc...
. Deathwish contacted Deafheaven, and originally only wanted to give their demo a wide physical release. By this point, the group already had some new material written and asked if Deathwish could release both the demo and the new material. The first release that Deafheaven released through Deathwish Inc. was a 7" vinyl single that featured "Libertine Dissolves" and "Daedalus," two songs that were taken from the group's demo. The single was pressed in a limited quantity and sent out as a gift to random people that made a purchase from Deathwish's webstore.
Their debut album, Roads to Judah
Roads to Judah
Roads to Judah is the debut studio album by the American rock band Deafheaven. The album was released by Deathwish Inc. on April 26, 2011. Roads to Judah was recorded in four days between December 2010 and January 2011.- Track listing :...
was released on April 26, 2011 through Deathwish. The title of the album is a reference to the N Judah
N Judah
The N Judah is a Muni Metro line in San Francisco, California, so called as it runs along Judah Street for much of its length, named after railroad engineer Theodore Judah. It links downtown San Francisco to the Cole Valley and Sunset neighborhoods. It is the busiest line in the Muni Metro system...
light rail that provides transportation in Deafheaven's hometown, and lyrically the album is about Clarke's "year of substance abuse and debauchery." Roads to Judah received positive reviews from Decibel and RVA Magazine
RVA Magazine
RVA Magazine is a full color publication which focuses on the art, music, events, and culture of the Richmond, Virginia area. It was founded in April 2005....
. To promote the album, Deafheaven performed at Austin, Texas' SXSW festival in March 2011, toured the United States with the Canadian noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
band KEN mode
KEN mode
KEN mode is a Canadian metallic hardcore-influenced noise rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba that was formed in September 1999.-History:...
in June 2011, and performed at California's Sound and Fury Festival in July 2011. In November 2011, Deafheaven toured the US with the post-rock band Russian Circles
Russian Circles
Russian Circles is a three piece instrumental rock/metal band from Chicago. Russian Circles play instrumental, sprawling music which runs the gamut of heavy discordant metal, to soft delicate passages...
, followed by a European tour in February 2012.
As a part of Deathwish Inc's free live album series, Deafheaven released Live at The Blacktop in July 2011. The album featured an entire live performance from the band's live performance on January 15, 2011 in Bell Gardens, California at The Blacktop—a former loading dock
Loading dock
A loading dock is a recessed bay in a building or facility where trucks are loaded and unloaded. They are commonly found on commercial and industrial buildings, and warehouses in particular....
converted into a venue.
By September 2011, Deafheaven had begun writing new music for a potential split album, EP or full-length. McCoy described the material as being "faster, darker, a lot heavier and far more experimental" than Roads to Judah.
Members
Current members- Nick Bassett – guitars
- George Clarke – vocals
- Trevor Deschryver – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Kerry McCoy – guitars
- Derek Prine – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Discography
- Demo (2010)
- "Libertine Dissolves / Daedalus" (2011)
- Roads to JudahRoads to JudahRoads to Judah is the debut studio album by the American rock band Deafheaven. The album was released by Deathwish Inc. on April 26, 2011. Roads to Judah was recorded in four days between December 2010 and January 2011.- Track listing :...
(2011) - Live at The Blacktop (2011)