The North Carolina experimental death metal band Voraath boasts a lineup that includes members of other groups we’ve followed over the years, including Xael and Rapheumets Well, and their resumes also include participation in Implosive Disgorgence, Sweet Blood, Accursed Creator, and Visitant. They’re now beginning to pave the way toward release of their debut album next year via Exitus Stratagem Records.
Voraath‘s aim is to do more than record and release music. The music is part of a universe they’re creating, drawing upon elements of horror and science-fantasy, which includes significant visual as well as audio portrayals, including the band’s own presentation of themselves on stage — each member appears as a character in the lore of the music, as you can see:
Photo by Jamie Leblanc, art by Joshua Ward
L-R – Paul McBride – Bass, Joshua Ward – Drums, Chelsea Marrow – Vocals, Tylor Kohl – Guitar
Earlier this year Voraath introduced their new vocalist Chelsea Marrow, a member of Visitant and also The Monster Factory – Death Metal Choir for the video game DOOM Eternal, and they did that through a video for a reenvisioned, remixed, and remastered version of the band’s previous single “Siren Head“.
Now, with some help from our premiere today, they’re releasing a new video for a new song, “Judas Blood and Vultures“, which is the first in a series of music videos they will be offering in the coming months in support of their forthcoming album.
We’ll let Voraath explain the setting of this new song, though you’ll also briefly see this introduction at the outset of the video itself:
The story of “Judas Blood and Vultures” takes place in the year 2193 – Mission: 3116 The Red Village incident: The Valewalkers are contacted by an old friend, Tobias to investigate a series of strange disappearances in a neighboring village. It is believed that a vile creature from beyond the Nexus Rift, known by the locals as Lumia is responsible for the missing villagers, among them, Tobias’ new bride and infant child. As the hunters and their forlorn guide begin their pursuit of the creature and its cultist minions, they soon discover that not all is as it seems in the ruins of the red village.
After a foreboding beginning, both visually and musically, the video erupts in extravagant scenes of vicious armed combat involving hideous alien protagonists, and other scenes of chilling mystery and horror as the conflict moves into shadowy realms.
The music is itself violent, horrifying, and mysterious, a genre-bending extravagance that’s full of startling surprises. At the heights of its intensity the drums fire at superhuman speeds, the riffing roils in madness and maniacally darts and jackhammers, and the vocals rabidly snarl and barbarically scream.
The music also channels the alien malignancy at work in the tale, as dire orchestration soars and sweeps, both eerie and stricken in its moods, before the musical fight to the death resumes, accented by a wailing guitar solo.
And further, the mysteries unfold through ringing and swirling keys and craggy bass tones, gradually swelling in intensity toward another guitar solo, a captivating one which underscores a building feeling of grief in the music.
At the end, another surprise awaits, a gentle but mesmerizing acoustic guitar harmony that seems wistful, but maybe also hopeful.
All in all, it’s a hell of a narrative spectacle, musically as well as visually.
Voraath band founder and drummer Joshua Nassaru Ward co-wrote the storyline for “Judas Blood and Vultures” along with directing its video with the combined efforts of the band’s team at Eldersverse Studio. We’ll share his comments here:
“We are excited to kick off our official series of music videos that encapsulate the lore of the music. We want to integrate many visual elements, from action to horror to science fantasy; this song highlights the pace of the album. The title of the song, ‘Judas Blood and Vultures‘ is a story of betrayal told through the lens of an action-horror. We want the audience to feel as if they are watching a first-person video game, blending our style of metal with our enthusiasm for 80’s sci-fi/horror and video games.
“We are excited to be working with Exitus Stratagem Records in bringing to life our musical vision. We are aiming to bring more than just metal but an entire experience, an auditory odyssey while still keeping our roots in blackened symphonic death metal.”
You can stream and download this new song via the locations collected here:
https://hypeddit.com/voraath/judasbloodandvultures
You can also follow Voraath‘s exploits via the further links below, and after those links we also invite you to experience the band’s video mentioned above for “Siren Head“, which includes guest vocals by Taylor Presnel.
Voraath is recommended for fans of Septicflesh, Cattle Decapitation, and Fleshgod Apocalypse.
https://www.voraath.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Voraath
https://www.instagram.com/voraath/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwWomr9E30QqpUFavhN2Feg