By: Alan D. Welding
Pittsburgh’s paramount Doom/Sludge underground act HOREHOUND continues their ascension above ground with news of a new partnership with San Francisco’s Doom Stew Records for the release of their second full-length album, ‘HOLOCENE‘. Set for a street date of November 30, 2018, ‘Holocene‘ will be available on CD, Vinyl, and Digital (Bandcamp, Spotify, and all major streaming outlets) with global distribution.

When asked about signing with a new label, the band had this to say:  “It’s really great to have been offered the opportunity to work with Doom Stew Records. They have been involved with strong and unique sounding artists and we just really like what they are doing. It’s going to be a great partnership.”

Holocene – Track List:
1. The Kind
2. Dier’s Dirge
3. L’appel du Vide
4. The Sloth
5. Anastatica
6. Highball
With all music written and performed by Horehound, the album was recorded and mixed by Matt Schor at War Room.in Pittsburgh, and mastering were done by James Plotkin at Plotkinworks.  The incredible cover artwork illustration is by Brian Mercer.

Vocalist Shy Kennedy shares a few words about the album:  “‘Holocene’ is the single most rewarding contribution I have made as an individual artist and even of any group effort I’ve been a part of. It has been a realization for Horehound and through this recording, we really cultivated our sound. The overwhelmingly gratifying experience we’ve had in creating this album will further transcend once we are able to share it with others.”

Guitarist Brendan Parrish adds:  “‘Holocene’ is a convergence of our respective influences and a natural evolution in the sound we’ve developed. It represents our growth as songwriters and we are very eager for the rest of the world to hear what we’re so proud to have created.”

HOREHOUND is:
JD Dauer – drums
Brendan Parrish – guitar
Shy Kennedy – vocals
Nick Kopco – bass
HOREHOUND – “L’appel du Vide”, from HOLOCENE – https://youtu.be/5GJ4LeXoaUw
They introduced the new album in July with a video for the debut of “L’appel du Vide”, the third track from ‘Holocene’. The visualizer was created by Sam McDonald.
“Horehound aren’t kidding around when they talk about their second album, Holocene, being a step forward from their 2016 self-titled debut. That album was an impressive showing of potential for their style, somewhere between heavy rock, doom and sludge but not necessarily beholden to any single one of them, and Holocene, from its gorgeous Brian Mercer cover art onward, proceeds to push their vision forward. It’s a bigger but still natural sound with an eye toward atmosphere and they’re giving a first taste in the semi-angular “L’Appel du Vide” now, having premiered a video for the third of the album’s total seven tracks, the last of which is hidden. Don’t tell anybody.” – The Obelisk

Upcoming Live Events:
Photo By Shannon Kenyon

BIO:

Horehound had become a Pittsburgh, PA hometown heavy underground favorite quite soon after forming in early 2015, performing with both local legends and well-known touring acts. In one year, Horehound released their self-titled debut album (both digital and CD) in April 2016, via Blackseed Records. The album immediately coiled around the heavy music media world, appearing for two consecutive months on the Doom Charts collaborative, and cemented their standing as more than just local favorites.

Recently Horehound has engaged that debut album for its 2018 re-release with Hellmistress Records, the East Coast label of veteran Melanie Streko (All That Is Heavy, Meteor City Records). The re-release has been re-mixed/mastered for both CD and vinyl pressing, including a bonus cover song, “Mysterons” originally written and performed by Portishead.

Fans have described Horehound as, “fucking heavy, doomy, catchy, and downright amazing.” Horehound would not disagree, citing their inspirations as Kyuss, (the) Melvins, and Alice in Chains, but you can hear a heavier sludge inspiration dwelling in the grinding guitar, haze-laden bass, bruising drums, and ethereally demanding vocals.

Horehound has made it quite evident in recent performances that their current lineup – including founding members Shy Kennedy (vocals) and Brendan Parrish (guitar) – have found their true sound with drummer JD Dauer and bassist Nick Kopco. The quartet is fiercer and impassioned to demonstrate it in sharing their next recording, which has been mastered and is raring to go.

The six tracks on ‘Holocene’ maintain the original Horehound-heavy, but has driven into deeper depths of dark, hardened post-doom metal. Set for release on November 30, 2018 through Doom Stew Records.

“…a fantastic band on the way up, and 2018 should be the year that doom metal fans outside of Pittsburgh start buzzing this band up.” ~ Metal Injection

“Horehound deliver stoner doom grooves, drenched distortion and fuzz underpinned with solid, tight rhythms and fronted by powerful and distinctive vocals… Horehound play it real, with feel and attitude.” ~ Doom Charts

“Horehound is a band that all fans of Thee almighty riff should put on their watch list.  There’s great balance to be found on their debut Self-Titled and they constantly fluctuate their songwriting tactics so that each of the album’s seven original compositions stands apart from one another.” ~ Teeth of The Divine

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