It’s a bold move for a new act to issue a debut single called “Exodus,” when a certain iconic Bay Area thrash band of the same name pretty much made their own “Exodus” an essential part of the metal canon 40-plus years ago. But new solo black metal outfit Encasement—created by one James Thompson—brings a certain frigid fury to its “Exodus” that indicates absolutely no connection to the Bonded by Blood favorite. The tense, relentless seven-minute track invokes more Scandinavia than San Fran and finds Thompson tempering his harsh, atonal exhortations with proggy explorations. And there are no threats to “kick in your face” or “murder your wife.” Whew.

Encasement was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Thompson. It’s set for release onvinyl, CD and digitally via Hypaethral and I, Voidhanger Records on September 4. Find LP preorders here and here; CD preorders here (EU), here (US) and here (Bandcamp).

Thompson described the process of creating “Exodus”:

“‘Exodus’ is about fruitlessly searching for a way out of grief without accepting it. Less directly, it’s about how the seeds of unhealthy attachment and coping mechanisms are often planted in youth. Its lyrics are a reworked version of a poem written years earlier. I was initially hesitant to complete this track.

“The intro to this track was the first piece of music written for the album. I was going for a lot of walks through my local park at night at the time, and the opening riff came into my head fully formed [when I was] 20 minutes from home. I rushed home while repeating it over and over in my head to make sure I could get it down before forgetting it. I initially failed, and put together a version I was completely unsatisfied with, before it eventually popped back to me in a way I was able to translate properly onto the guitar. That moment set the rest of the album’s writing process in motion. I’m pretty thankful it played out this way.”

The post Track Premiere: Encasement – “Exodus” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.