As anticipation builds toward the Feb. 22 release of “The Harrier,” the sophomore album by HISS FROM THE MOAT (the transcontinental black/death metal band founded by former Vital Remains and Hour of Penance drummer James Payne), the group has unveiled a play-through video of a new song, “God Nephasto.” The clip, which premiered yesterday via Gear Gods, can be seen at this location – https://youtu.be/K-fxPoViokY.
Gear Gods described the blistering song as “blackened tech-death,” writing that “the precise technical execution and raw blackened aesthetic, two seemingly opposing approaches, are combining in a marvelous way.” The site went on to praise Payne‘s performance, calling him “one of the only drummers with the god-like capability of playing with extreme technical precision while endowing deliberate feel.”
Says Payne, “The song is one of the most intense of the album as far as rhythm and atmosphere. It has several parts of blast beats and breakdowns that, combined with the dark atmosphere of the notes, keep the song pretty nervous. This is to support the lyrics that have been taken from parts of the Enuma Elish and the Old Testament that talk about when the gods mentioned in these scripts ordered sacrifices in their honor.”
“God Nephasto” is now available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp and other digital platforms. It is also being offered along with the title track – the music video for which can be seen at this location – as an “instant grat” download in conjunction with all digital pre-orders.
“The Harrier” will be released on Feb. 22 on CD, digital and limited-edition moat-black vinyl. Pre-orders are available now via Bandcamp (https://hissfromthemoat.bandcamp.com) and the M-Theory Audio webshop (www.m-theoryaudio.com/store). The album – which features cover artwork by Stefano Bonora – was recorded, mixed and mastered at Milan’s SPVN Studio with Stefano Orkid Santi, who produced the latest Cripple Bastards album and previously worked as live engineer for bands such as Origin, Suffocation and Cattle Decapitation.
The U.S.-based Payne formed HISS FROM THE MOAT with two Italian friends – bassist/vocalist Carlo Cremascoli and guitarist Giacomo Poli – when he was just 18 years old. In 2009, the group self-released their debut EP, “The Carved Flesh Message,” which they supported by performing alongside the likes of Psycroptic, Skeletonwitch and The Black Dahlia Murder.
Four years later, HISS FROM THE MOAT released their debut full-length, “Misanthropy,” via Lacerated Enemy/Nuclear Blast. The band’s intense use of both extremes of death and black metal produced an album that stood alongside those of acts such as Behemoth, Belphegor and Rotting Christ.
Following the release of “Misanthropy,”HISS FROM THE MOAT embarked on an extensive tour across Russia, Europe and Asia, delivering aggressive and visually engaging performances backed by the blackened intensity of the band’s new material. During this period, Payne left the legendary death metal act Vital Remains– a group he joined following a two-year stint with Italian death metal powerhouse Hour of Penance – to focus full-time on HISS FROM THE MOAT, and the band extended from a three-piece to a quartet with the addition of Max Cirelli(guitar/vocals).
Over the past two years, the band has toured extensively worldwide while working between the U.S. and Italy to write “The Harrier.” Now, HISS FROM THE MOAT aim to unleash another sonic onslaught that captures the band’s range of death and black metal inspiration while creating a unique and intense presence in the world of extreme music.
HISS FROM THE MOAT are:
Max Cirelli – Guitar/Vocals
James Payne – Drums
Carlo Cremascoli – Bass/Vocals
Jack Poli – Guitar
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