Worcester, Massachusetts-based crossover henchmen High Command have signed to Southern Lord and are currently plotting their debut full-length release for the label.
Surging with the strength of the early US thrash and crossover scene, High Command projects a scathing display of scorched earth vocals and spiraling divebomb riffs, soaked in napalm leads, and percussive
devastation. With competitive and fantasy-inspired lyrical scourge, the band drives their message forth with might and conviction.
The raw barbarity of High Command’s crushing early recordings caught the ear of Southern Lord who hunted the band down and now has them locked and loaded for the release of their debut album. Writing for the new record commenced in the autumn of 2017, and the album will be completed in the coming months and released by early 2019.
The brainchild of guitarist Ryan McArdle and vocalist Kevin Fitzgerald, High Command began in rebellion to the brutal winter months, yet quickly spiraled into a full-bore wrecking machine, initiating the recruitment of like-minded friends, the lineup fleshed-out by guitarist Mike Bonetti, bassist Chris Berg, and drummer Ryan Pitz.
High Command recorded The Secartha Demos at The Paincave with Chris Corey (Mind Eraser, Magic Circle, No Tolerance, Inumerable Forms), mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (From Ashes Rise, Integrity, Obituary) and was subsequently released on Haftvad Records. About the release, the label states, “With razor-sharp metallic riffs, pure punk adrenaline, and an original Sword and Sorcery theme, High Command delivers a demo of skull crushing fantasy violence and aggressive atmosphere. If the brutal literary worlds of Robert E. Howard and Karl Edward Wagner manifested in the musical form of Sodom, Mercyful Fate, Integrity, and Cro-Mags, “The Secartha Demos” would likely be the result. For those who live for the lust of battle and music that bludgeons with the fury of a spiked-mace.” Shortly thereafter, the label then released the two-song The Primordial Void 7”.
“A brawny and narrative-driven kind of crossover, draped in outlandish
lore, taking zero prisoners”. – DECIBEL
“It’s a powerhouse dose of crossover thrash that’s thoroughly galvanizing when the pedal is to the metal, and hits hard enough to rupture organs in the mercilessly grim slower sections.” – NO CLEAN
SINGING
“There is something ferocious about High Command’s masterful grip on their songcraft, their thrash metal snarls and intimidates as much as it asserts, making it sound like they have more in the tank than what they actually show you, which is impressive considering that the total sum of riffs, rhythms, and vocals found here is enough raw material for High Command to eventual dominate all of thrashdom.” – MINDFUL OF METAL
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