OBEY THE RIFF legends – New Zealand’s Beastwars are edging ever closer to the release of their new album ‘IV‘ on Friday June 28 (out through Destroy Records) and today are releasing an emotional look into the recording of the album sessions with their video for single “Storms of Mars“.
The single and video drop comes only a week out from release and from the start of their album tour that first takes them through their homeland of New Zealand and then across the ditch for a run of shows with Australian doom outfitt Witchskull. Physical CD/Vinyl and Merch bundles can be pre-ordered now at http://www.beastwars.bigcartel.com.
Nathan Hickey, drummer for the band, is taken back to the moment he witnessed this ferocious vocal performance – “Matt had just finished his chemotherapy treatment and this was the first song he recorded for the new album. I remember James our engineer thinking the first take was just a practice run and him scrambling to dial in his settings when he realised Matt was absolutely going for it. Matt’s determination to get straight into it shows just how vital making this album was to Matt’s recovery.
We were all so blown away in the studio as he belted it out. You can really see and feel him exorcising a lot of the anguish of the (then) past 6 months. Although it’s hard to listen to some of the lyrics knowing what he’d been through, we are all so proud of this song and of Matt’s strength and resilience.”
This new album is Beastwars’ triumphant return after vocalist Matt Hyde underwent over 6 months of treatment for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2016 – he battled it and won – and is now in remission. The album is shaped by Hyde’s experiences and battle. The clip and its lyrics and Matt’s performance show him at his most vulnerable and emotional – getting the words out, pushing himself to his limits to imbue every word with meaning and purpose.
Beastwars are taking the record on the road throughout June and July – touring New Zealand and Australia – presented by Panhead Custom Ales. They are hitting Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin in New Zealand and then jumping over the Tasman to play Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne shows. All shows minus Christchurch, Dunedin and Brisbane will feature Australia’s Witchskull.
Beastwars formed in Wellington in 2006. Their 2011 self-titled debut was nominated for Best New Zealand Rock Album at the New Zealand Music Awards, as were their second and third albums 2014’s Blood Becomes Fire and 2016’s The Death Of All Things. Beastwars and Blood Becomes Fire were also nominated for the Taite Music Prize.
Beastwars’ new album IV will be released on Friday June 28 and can be pre-ordered now – Limited Edition Vinyl, Cassette and T-Shirt Bundles are available at http://www.beastwars.bigcartel.com.
PANHEAD CUSTOM ALES PRESENT
BEASTWARS
IV ALBUM RELEASE TOUR
with special guest
WITCHSKULL (AUS)
Wellington – San Fran – Friday June 28
Auckland – Galatos – Saturday June 29
Christchurch – Blue Smoke – Friday July 5*
Dunedin – The Cook – Saturday July 6*
Sydney – Crowbar – Thursday July 11 w/ POTION
Melbourne – The Espy, Gershwin Room – Friday July 12 w/ Dr. Colossus and Droid
Brisbane – Dead of Winter Festival – Saturday July 13*
*dates without WITCHSKULL
NZ Tickets from undertheradar.co.nz
Sydney and Dead of Winter Tickets available from oztix.com.au
Melbourne Tickets available from moshtix.com.au
