Saturday 30 November 2013

Voidward - Knives EP

knives EP cover art

Voidward is a solo metal project from Durham, NC, USA

Voidward is the work of one highly talented individual - Greg Sheriff - who plays everything on the awesome Voidward debut EP - Knives.

His bio should tell you all you need to know and what to expect on Knives EP.

"Voidward is Greg Sheriff. Taking inspiration from the many consistently great North Carolina bands like US Christmas, Horseback and Make, Greg is looking to further expand and blur the lines of what metal is and can be - while still retaining and revelling in its core elements. Voidward is a completely DIY project in all aspects from writing to playing and recording. 

To paraphrase Steinbeck, 'Our species is the only creative species, and it has only one creative instrument, the individual mind and spirit of a man...And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual. 

This is what I am and what I am about. I can understand why a system built on a pattern must try to destroy the free mind, for it is the one thing which can by inspection destroy such a system.' Other friends and musicians will fill out the live portion, with their influences making Voidward grow and evolve continuously from release to release."

Well since Greg has listed MAKE as one his influences I had to check him out. MAKE are one of my fave Sludge/Post-Metal bands of recent years. All I can say is Knives is fucking epic. It's a seamless mix of Rock, Sludge, Black Metal and Post-Metal that had me coming back for more.

Knives is a 3 song and 28 minute blast of superb extreme metal riffs. It's a deeply emotional ride into the darkness of the human spirit. Greg has brilliantly captured the dark moments that Sludge, Black Metal and Post-Metal are known for.

Greg's sound is highly addictive and one that will last long in the memory. Check out the amazing opening track - The Plowman - which shows you what Voidward is all about. Sprawling dark psych Sludge/Post-Metal riffs mixed with a dangerous Black Metal vibe lurking in the shadows. A great introduction for this EP to start with.

2nd track - There Are Stars In All Wolves' Eyes - adds a more rock orientated sound before adding cold as steel Black Metal vocals that will speak volumes to long time Bathory fans. This is what Ghost BC should of sounded like. Dark, Brutal and filled with epic riffs to rock out to.

3rd Track - To Scatter One's Own - is the final piece in this weird and wonderful psych based jigsaw puzzle that is Knives. Greg returns to his heavier metal roots that he laid down on The Plowman but adding a harsher Psych Rock edge with blistering Ambient based noises and vocals to scare the hell out of you.

Knives is fucking superb. Greg has worked wonders here. His style of music is one I want to hear more of. Knives is awesome.

You can download this for free from BandCamp now. If you want something different to check out then I can't recommend this highly enough.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Check Voidward from links below

Facebook
BandCamp