POST DEATH SOUNDTRACK’s fourth full-length release, “Veil Lifter,” emerges as a tempestuous, 10-track Molotov cocktail channeling elements of doom, grunge, hardcore, and thrash into a resoundingly crushing new record. Departing from the orchestrated industrial soundscapes of their third album, “It Will Come Out of Nowhere,” Jon Ireson and Stephen Moore have veered sharply towards an untamed, organic live sound. This fresh approach, coined as ‘doom grunge,’ is fueled by the influences of iconic bands such as Alice in Chains, Black Sabbath, Nirvana, and The Stooges, alongside contemporary heavy music pioneers like Russian Circles, Windhand, Queens of the Stone Age, and YOB. With sludgy riffs, hardcore fury, hypnotic grooves, and ethereal ambience, “Veil Lifter” conjures a singularly affecting vision, encapsulating the outsider mentality akin to a threatening pack of hyenas.
Thematically, “Veil Lifter” delves into provocative, incisive, and uncensored territories, serving as a rousing invocation of spiritual weaponry and a meditation on the prevalence of mental illness within the collective psyche. The album boldly confronts terrifying realities while offering a prayer-like expression. The title itself, derived from an Eastern philosophy-inspired phrase, “lifting the veil of ignorance,” hints at transcending external facades to uncover intrinsic truths. Through shamanic visions, shadowy dreamscapes, and a relentless pursuit of solace, the protagonist navigates themes of renewal and unbecoming amidst scorched Earth landscapes and icy subterranean waters.
Steve Moore reflects on “Veil Lifter” as the culmination of his artistic vision, characterized by its uncensored darkness, emotional rawness, and cathartic essence. Penned during tumultuous times marked by isolation, depression, addiction, and perseverance, the album serves as a poignant invocation of protection and resilience. Drawing from metaphors, dream language, and influences ranging from Advaita to Zen philosophy, “Veil Lifter” aims to evoke deeply personal emotions, emanating from a place of profound vulnerability and danger.
Dedicated to the memory of Steve’s father, Ted George Moore, “Veil Lifter” stands as a testament to the resilience and creative expression amidst adversity. Jon Ireson sheds light on the album’s creative process, detailing how Steve’s prolific guitar compositions laid the foundation for a sonic evolution, blending slow dirges with hardcore-inspired elements. The collaborative effort swiftly coalesced, with intense bursts of creativity yielding the album’s skeletal structure. With the addition of vocal layers, melodic bass lines, and the contributions of Casey Lewis, the record attained its full potency, offering visceral tracks like “Lowdown Animal” that encapsulate the band’s ethos of challenging conventions and confronting darkness head-on.
“Veil Lifter” is set to release on digital platforms on April 16th, with a limited edition vinyl run slated for a subsequent release date, promising an immersive sonic journey into the depths of existential exploration and sonic rebellion.
