From Portland, Oregon, Death Parade announces new album Vernaissance, coming February 12th on Accident Prone Records.
Stream the official music video for "Doomhorses," a track from Vernaissance, here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOoN9STlmto
A founding member of doomgaze stars Blackwater Holylight, vocalist/guitarist Laura Hopkins exorcises her demons on the glorious new Death Parade album, Vernaissance. Spacious and grief-stricken, the extremely personal Vernaissance crushes quietly and in slow motion. Lines can be drawn to the mesmerizing vocals of Grouper's Liz Harris and Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval, the sparse tension of post-rockers Codeine and Slint, and the sheer anguish of doom legends Warning. Airy, delicate songs are weighted down by a heavy undertow of sorrow. Hopkins's entrancing vocals are at once gentle yet empowered, ethereal yet brimming with vengeance.
Pre-order the album, here:
A founding member of doomgaze stars Blackwater Holylight, vocalist/guitarist Laura Hopkins exorcises her demons on the glorious new Death Parade album, Vernaissance. Spacious and grief-stricken, the extremely personal Vernaissance crushes quietly and in slow motion. Lines can be drawn to the mesmerizing vocals of Grouper's Liz Harris and Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval, the sparse tension of post-rockers Codeine and Slint, and the sheer anguish of doom legends Warning. Airy, delicate songs are weighted down by a heavy undertow of sorrow. Hopkins's entrancing vocals are at once gentle yet empowered, ethereal yet brimming with vengeance.
Despite the glacial tempos and mournful tone, the songs on Vernaissance never wallow aimlessly. Hopkins, backed by guitarist Tatiana Rose, bassist Cristina Dobbelaere, and drummer Stanley Lafever, has crafted songs that move along with purpose and elicit maximum feeling. She states: "My songs are built on entwined melodies, competing rhythms, and long pauses, waiting for the next hit to come. A big influence for me as a songwriter is Roy Orbison and Patsy Cline, with the climactic build ups and structures that Roy uses, and the pain portrayed by the vocals from them both."
To attain its sound – natural, roomy, crystal clear – Vernaissance was recorded with engineer Nicholas Wilbur at Unknown Studio, a converted church in Anacortes, Washington where artists including Mt. Eerie, Angel Olsen, and Sumac have all worked. The album was mixed and mastered by Sasha Stroud at Artifact Audio (YHWH Nailgun, Pharmakon).
While comparisons to great artists can be made, Hopkins's work is ultimately so authentic and specific to her own experiences, Vernaissance sounds like no one else. She candidly discusses her struggles with the healthcare system that largely inspired the new album: "The album was written two years ago when my endometriosis got so bad I couldn't get out of bed for days. The tempo of the album is slow mostly due to my body not functioning properly, and playing doomy dissonant chords was very soothing for me. Endometriosis is categorized as one of the most painful diseases, but since it mostly only happens to people with uteruses, it hasn't been studied enough and there's so much misinformation about it. It took me over ten years to get a diagnosis and when I finally did, I could barely walk some days. I experienced so many doctors abandoning their humanity to just prescribe and move on to the next person, without looking into systemic issues and the root of the pain. After getting excision surgery and a hysterectomy, I am finally not suffering three weeks out of the month and am able to play shows and get out there again. Vernaissance is a combination of the words 'vernal' and 'renaissance.' I wanted a word that conveyed a springtime rebirth, after a long winter of darkness. It is a nod to my own personal rebirth, with the content of the songs speaking about standing up for yourself, finding your part in your own suffering, and leaving behind those who you abandon yourself for."
Released today, the video for the album's penultimate track, "Doomhorses," juxtaposes images of state violence and majestic wild horses, a fitting representation of the album's theme of liberation from suffering.
Tracklist:
1) Sun in Yr Eyes
2) Limelight
3) Deserving
4) Unlucky
5) Last One
6) Reach Out
7) Hypocritic Oath
8) Doomhorses
9) Nothing for You Now
Lineup:
Laura Hopkins - vocals, guitar
Tatiana Rose - guitar
Cristina Dobbelaere - bass
Stanley Lafever - drums
Upcoming shows:
November 19 - Portland, OR @ Star Theater (w/ Hell)
December 18 - Seattle, WA @ Rain City Doom Fest (w/ Yob, King Woman)
Photos by Starly Kind
Tracklist:
1) Sun in Yr Eyes
2) Limelight
3) Deserving
4) Unlucky
5) Last One
6) Reach Out
7) Hypocritic Oath
8) Doomhorses
9) Nothing for You Now
Lineup:
Laura Hopkins - vocals, guitar
Tatiana Rose - guitar
Cristina Dobbelaere - bass
Stanley Lafever - drums
Upcoming shows:
November 19 - Portland, OR @ Star Theater (w/ Hell)
December 18 - Seattle, WA @ Rain City Doom Fest (w/ Yob, King Woman)
Photos by Starly Kind
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