Withered
Encyclopedia
Withered is an American extreme metal
band from Atlanta, Georgia
, founded by Chris Freeman and Mike Thompson. Both members also participate in a crust punk
/grindcore
band, Social Infestation, which also features Mastodon
bassist Troy Sanders
.
"5.4 of 6 - Folie Circulaire had me riveted from its opening strains to the last moments of its closing Necrophobic cover. . . .Withered are the future of heavy metal." - Doug Moore for MetalReview.com
"4 of 5 stars - [Withered] mixes dense, lurching doom with pummeling blast beats, crafting songs that are as bleak and fraught with palpable tension as a blackened tornado funnel cloud on a distant horizon. The 10 tracks link together seamlessly in a 45-minute-long lesson in abject human misery." - Adem Tepedelen for Revolver Magazine
"If you can envision a soundtrack befitting a soul’s slow descent into madness, Withered’s Folie Circulaire would be about as close as you can get." - Alxs Ness for Abort Magazine
"In the very capable hands of Withered, the possibilities for sonic destruction seem limitless and ultimately, a formality. " - David E Gehlke for Blistering.com
"9 out of 10 - Folie Circulaire sounds like a blackened cross between My Bloody Valentine and Morbid Angel." - Rod Smith for Decibel magazine
"4.5 of 5 sparrows - The music is at times so stunning and overwhelming...Withered have taken gorgeous music and have given it a bath of blood, piss and shit." - Hansel for deafsparrow.com
"With Folie Circulaire , black-metal underdogs WITHERED unleashed the bleakest, most constrictive metal opus Atlanta has seen since Mastodon's Leviathan.
Every time the group takes the stage, slow, pulverizing grooves grind,bash and build to a climax of machine gun drums, helicopter head-banging and a bestial growl. While Mastodon was busy cracking the Skye, Withered punched a hole through the earth and reached deep into the bowels of hell to summon an epic, labyrinthine roar. "-
Creative Loafing Best of 2009
, C.G. Jung, Georges Bataille
, The Marquis de Sade, Arthur Machen
, and Aleister Crowley
as influential thinkers on the group, conceptually.
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
band from Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, founded by Chris Freeman and Mike Thompson. Both members also participate in a crust punk
Crust punk
Crust punk is a form of music influenced by anarcho-punk, hardcore punk and extreme metal. The style, which evolved in the mid-1980s in England, often has songs with dark and pessimistic lyrics that linger on political and social ills...
/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, Social Infestation, which also features Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
bassist Troy Sanders
Troy Sanders
Troy Sanders is an American bassist/singer best known as a member of the Atlanta, Georgia metal band Mastodon, in which he shares vocal duties with guitarist Brent Hinds and drummer Brann Dailor.-Background:...
.
Overview
Withered, formed in 2003, exists to explore the darker aspects of human existence and deliver it to the masses while exemplifying unbridled truths about human nature. From the exploration of coping with tragedy to theoretical philosophical approaches, Withered continues to push their boundaries of perception into a realm of solitude and raw introspective discovery. They have released three full length albums, Memento Mori (2005 - Lifeforce), Folie Circulaire (2008 - Prosthetic) and Dualitas (2010 - Prosthetic). All three albums have been critically acclaimed and topped numerous year end and decade end lists. Withered mixes a blackened atmosphere with the weight of doom metal & old school Scandinavian death metal to culminate a unique blend of extreme styles and expression.2003
Withered was formed as a concept by Chris Freeman and Mike Thompson. They brought in Wes Kever (drums) and Greg Hess (bass) to complete the lineup and to create Withered’s bull dozer of a rhythm section. They immediately wrote 5 songs that were recorded (3 of which were released on their self titled demo).2005
Withered signed to Lifeforce records and released “Memento Mori” in September. It was very well received by critics and fans. Was honored with the 4 spot on decibel magazine’s top 40 list as well as making many other year end lists and receiving high praise in reviews and articles. The release was followed up with a UK tour supporting Mastodon, High On Fire, & bloodsimple in December.2006
The US touring cycle began with a string of successful east coast and Midwest tours supporting Dismember, Grave, and Vital Remains in October. Immediately following the tour, Wes & Greg both left the band. They had both started new families causing their focus to be needed elsewhere.2007
Early in the year, Withered’s rhythm section was replaced with Mike Longoria (bass/noise/atmosphere) and Beau Brandon (drums). Both had collaborated on numerous projects for over a decade. Their history and uncanny approach to rhythms has proven to be one of the most unique and formidable rhythm sections in extreme metal today. Regional touring began almost immediately and they started work on their 2nd full length between tours with Skeletonwitch & Zoroaster.2008
Entered the studio in February to record “Folie Circulaire” with producer Phillip Cope (kylesa, baroness, black tusk). The album was released in late June and also received high praise throughout the scene. Withered was once again honored by making many year-end lists and being offered some fantastic touring opportunities. They followed up the release with a full US tour as direct support for Sweden’s Watain.2009
Touring continued and withered was featured at the 1st Scion Festival, the New England hardcore and metal festival, & even the Maryland Deathfest. Withered supported Mayhem, Cephalic Carnage, & Cattle Decapitation in June for a full US tour. In August, they were offered a special mini-tour as direct support for Sweden’s Marduk in the Northeast US. They spent the rest of the year writing for their 3rd full length to be released in fall of 2010.2010
The year began with continued writing for "Dualitas". Withered was showcased at SXSW in Austin, Tx in March. they entered The Jam Room studio w/ producer Phillip Cope in May/June to record "Dualitas" for a fall release. At the end of October, they toured 6 weeks throughout North America to support the album's release. Part of which was with Danzig's Blackest Of The Black tour w/ Danzig, Possessed, Marduk, & Toxic Holocaust. That was immediately followed up by touring with label mates, Skeletonwitch & landmine marathon.Reviews
"These tracks contain a vast, roaring sea of guitar, and after a while you stop thinking about the artists' hands; it sounds as if it's not made by pale, bearded guys from Atlanta but by forces of weather." - Ben Ratliff for The New York Times"5.4 of 6 - Folie Circulaire had me riveted from its opening strains to the last moments of its closing Necrophobic cover. . . .Withered are the future of heavy metal." - Doug Moore for MetalReview.com
"4 of 5 stars - [Withered] mixes dense, lurching doom with pummeling blast beats, crafting songs that are as bleak and fraught with palpable tension as a blackened tornado funnel cloud on a distant horizon. The 10 tracks link together seamlessly in a 45-minute-long lesson in abject human misery." - Adem Tepedelen for Revolver Magazine
"If you can envision a soundtrack befitting a soul’s slow descent into madness, Withered’s Folie Circulaire would be about as close as you can get." - Alxs Ness for Abort Magazine
"In the very capable hands of Withered, the possibilities for sonic destruction seem limitless and ultimately, a formality. " - David E Gehlke for Blistering.com
"9 out of 10 - Folie Circulaire sounds like a blackened cross between My Bloody Valentine and Morbid Angel." - Rod Smith for Decibel magazine
"4.5 of 5 sparrows - The music is at times so stunning and overwhelming...Withered have taken gorgeous music and have given it a bath of blood, piss and shit." - Hansel for deafsparrow.com
"With Folie Circulaire , black-metal underdogs WITHERED unleashed the bleakest, most constrictive metal opus Atlanta has seen since Mastodon's Leviathan.
Every time the group takes the stage, slow, pulverizing grooves grind,bash and build to a climax of machine gun drums, helicopter head-banging and a bestial growl. While Mastodon was busy cracking the Skye, Withered punched a hole through the earth and reached deep into the bowels of hell to summon an epic, labyrinthine roar. "-
Creative Loafing Best of 2009
Lyrical influences
Withered has cited Friedrich NietzscheFriedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...
, C.G. Jung, Georges Bataille
Georges Bataille
Georges Bataille was a French writer. His multifaceted work is linked to the domains of literature, anthropology, philosophy, economy, sociology and history of art...
, The Marquis de Sade, Arthur Machen
Arthur Machen
Arthur Machen was a Welsh author and mystic of the 1890s and early 20th century. He is best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. His novella The Great God Pan has garnered a reputation as a classic of horror...
, and Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
as influential thinkers on the group, conceptually.
Current members
- Dylan Kilgore - Guitar, vocals (since 2009)
- Mike Thompson - Guitar, vocals (since 2003)
- Mike Longoria - Bass (since 2006)
- Beau Brandon - Drums (since 2007)
Former members
- Chris Freeman - Guitar, vocals (2003-2009)
- Greg Hess - Bass (2003-2006)
- Wes Kever - Drums (2003-2007)
- Alex Tomlin - Drums (live session - Mastodon UK tour 2005)
- Herb Jowett - Bass (live session - Dismember North American tour 2006)
Discography
- 2004 Demo (2004)
- Memento Mori (2005)
- Folie Circulaire (2008)
- Dualitas (2010)