“To Which I Bore Witness” is the debut full-length album from Canada’s post-metal duo They Grieve via Silent Pendulum Records. Taking the form of an introspective journey, it is meant to be depressing. The listener will be confronted with sad, loud music that’s not meant to cross into anger. The band wants people to sit with the album’s sadness and find comfort or kinship within. Each element of the release from the music, to the artwork, to the liner notes, is very intentional and suggested to be enjoyed as a whole.
The band explains further:
“This album, both lyrically and musically, tries to capture the uncomfortable juxtaposition between weakness and weight. We are constantly trying to express the ways in which the ugliness and decay we see in the world sets itself down and plants its roots inside of us – how the weight of the world transforms into our own weakness once it has done so. We try to capture this feeling of juxtaposition and tension within the music itself by oscillating between ambient, textural drones and heavy, doom-laden riffs”.
They Grieve hopes that their music fills a niche not quite like other post-metal acts who are currently active. They feel that they offer a nuanced blend of doom(ish) metal and post-metal ambiance without diving into the more typical harsh noise territory. The production value of “To Which I Bore Witness” is a clear step up for them. Compared to the self-recorded debut EP, “I Made My Sacrifice Accordingly”, this new offering does a much better job of capturing the atmosphere and energy of their live performances.
A cold embrace of post-metal colliding with ambient drone, “To Which I Bore Witness” is recommended for fans of The Body, Cult of Luna, and Bell Witch. The album was produced by Topon Das (F*ck The Facts) at Apartment 2 Studio along with mastering done by Dave Williams at Eight Floors Above and additional tracks recorded by Alex Jakimczuk at Uppercut Studios. Album artwork was done by Pascale Arpin.
“To Which I Bore Witness” will be released on February 24th, 2023, via Silent Pendulum Records.
Pre-order “To Which I Bore Witness” here.
Tracklist:
1. Wither (7:12)
2. Under the Weight (7:23)
3. If Light Should Appear (7:00)
4. To Which I Bore Witness (6:43)
5. Guided (3:18)
6. Weakness (8:01)
Album Band Line-up:
Gary Thibert: Guitars, Bass, Vocals
Deniz Güvenç: Drums, Synthesizers, Piano, Vocals
Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Deniz Guvenc & Gary Thibert
• All songs written by: Deniz Guvenc & Gary Thibert
• Produced by: Topon Das at Apartment 2 Studios
• Mixed by: Topon Das at Apartment 2 Studios
• Mastered by: Dave Williams at Eight Floors Above
• Album Artwork by: Pascale Arpin
• Additional tracks recorded by Alex Jakimczuk at Uppercut Studios
They Grieve is a two-piece doom, drone, and post-metal band based in Ottawa, Canada. Drawing influence from both minimalist ambient music and down-tempo metal, they blend warm synthesizers, electronics, and lofty guitar drones into mournful hymns and monolithic dirges with urgency, tension, and weight.
Members Gary Thibert and Deniz Güvenç formed They Grieve in 2015 with the intent to experiment with new forms and processes for songwriting, collaboration, and improvisation. Their first EP, “I Made My Sacrifice Accordingly”, was self-recorded and self-released in late 2016. In 2018, it was re-released with an added bonus track and accompanying music video through Transcending Records.
They Grieve are set to release their debut full-length album entitled To Which I Bore Witness. Recorded at Apartment 2 with Topon Das of Fuck the Facts, this album presents a marked change in the band’s sound. Moving away from the harsh-noise influence on their first album, “To Which I Bore Witness” unveils a much more refined approach to texture and atmosphere while simultaneously shifting to a slower, heavier pace.
Employing a nuanced sense of harmony, the result is an emotional, dynamic, and doom-laden take on post-metal.
Weblinks:
www.facebook.com/theygrieve
www.instagram.com/theygrieve
