Things are a little bit different this week…Not that there’s anything drastic about the announcement concerning the new face of and forthcoming album by North Dakotan death thrashers Gorgatron, just a little bit of a different tone. Here’s why: The band originally hit me up to write a press release to collate all the new things going on in their world. So I did. Bassist/vocalist Cameron Dewald then asked when it was going to appear on Decibel’s website, not knowing that, aside from breaking news and announcements, a good portion of the content you see here usually has to be planned and confirmed comparatively far in advance. An innocent mistake. Well, time has come to unleash that mighty press release and catch up with what’s going on with Gorgatron as they make their latest moves. And a-way we go…
GORGATRON PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT
Having been a band that has never locked onto a bee-line or followed the rules of convention in the racking up of accomplishments, North Dakota grind/death/thrash brigade Gorgatron are celebrating their 20th year of existence on Planet Metal with their usual unexpected expectedness. What this means is a near-complete overhaul and a new laser-sighted focus on life. The outfit that originally came to life as a grind project named after an Aqua Teen Hunger Force character — a band that bassist Cameron Dewald half-jokingly describes as “one that started as a joke that I now have to do taxes for” — are back with their fifth album, Turmoil and a whole host of changes — some temporary, some permanent.
The band’s latest sonic screed of melodic malevolence is scheduled for a fall release on burgeoning Italian imprint, Time to Kill Records, promising an uptick in focus and resources to accompany Gorgatron’s customary upending of extreme music conventions to go along with the revamped lineup. Joining Dewald and drummer Matt Johnson, is Ignominious vocalist Colin Richardson (not that Colin Richardson!) who replaces long-standing frontman Karl Schmidt. Richardson was approached as the recording process was coming down to the wire and ended up delivering a vocal performance that blew his new bandmates away. “To add,” adds Dewald, “we’re super-stoked on his live performance because he puts on a hell of a show that will go hand-in-hand with what Gorgatron does live!” Helping to keep the momentum moving is new guitarist Billy Zahn. The ex-Micawber and Vindicator shredder joins guitarist and original member Paul Johnson to keep the Gorgatron freight train barreling forward (Henri Jourdan will be temporarily filling for Johnson in a live capacity). In a corkscrew twist germane to Gorgatron’s left hand path, Zahn was actually touted to join the band back in 2022 before linking up with Micawber. Following that decision, the band ended up recruiting now ex-six string slinger Copper Schuh! With Zahn’s shredding capabilities locked, loaded and in Gorgatron’s pocket, Dewald asserts that the focus and drive is bubbling and bristling “to make this band bigger and better.”
With Johnson’s drums being recorded in Brooklyn at Thump Recordings and guitars and bass captured at various spots in the unsuspecting metallic triangle anchored by New Orleans, Omaha and Baltimore, artwork realized by Tony Koehl (who was responsible for the covers of the band’s 2010 and 2014 albums, Torturetorium and Inner Supremacy) and with the whole beast being mixed and mastered by Hour of Penance bassist Marco Mastrobuono, Turmoil is ready and set to make a statement. That being of perseverance, determination and dedication to one’s craft as well as the raw, unfiltered and inextinguishable love of heavy music. That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, as they say. Gorgotron have reconstituted leaner, meaner and stronger and ready to slay harder than ever.”
Also, that one dude is wearing a Wrathchild America shirt, so you know they gotta rule!
