The Wretched End Comments On New Album "In These Woods, From These Mountains"

It has been nearly four years since new sounds have emerged from the fiery studio alliance of former Emperor/Zyklon guitarist Samoth, Mindgrinder/Windir member Cosmo, and Dark Funeral drummer Nils Dominator Fjellström. This April, that silence ends with the worldwide release of "In These Woods, From These Mountains."

Boasting a darker foundation than its predecessors, "In These Woods, From These Mountains" was mixed with producer Marius Strand in Norway and mastered at Fascination Street in Sweden.

“Dead Icons” opens the album with fervent drumming and the signature buzz of Samoth’s celebrated six-strings. Harrowing vocals cater to the songs blasting and calculated cadence. Old friend Attila Csihar (Mayhem, Tormentor) lends hand on “Old Norwegian Soul,” while Leprous vocalist/keyboardist Einar Solberg and Red Harvest’s LRZ contribute on the band’s unexpected adaptation of Bel Canto’s “Dewy Fields” for the album’s epic closer.

During the creation process of the album, Samoth and Cosmo made a conscious decision to strive for a more organic and spontaneous sound. Samoth notes, “We went into this recording with a do-it-yourself attitude. We recorded everything ourselves in different locations and set-ups. We really wanted to capture our raw energy. It really was a principle focus for us.”

Reuniting with Canadian contemporary artist Vexedart, a video has been created for the album’s second song, “Primordial Freedom.” Samoth shares, “we wanted to work with Vexedart again. He’s a good friend and an excellent artist. It’s again a do-it-yourself cooperation; we filmed some of the band scenes ourselves and he did everything else. The overall feeling is very eerie and obscure.”

At the conclusion of Zyklon, Samoth’s post-Emperor project, The Wretched End began as a collaboration between Cosmo and himself in 2008. The duo previously worked together in deathpunk band Scum (also featuring former Emperor drummer Bard Faust, Turbonegro’s Happy Tom, and Amen’s Casey Chaos) while Mindgrinder, Cosmo's currently dormant death/thrash band, has recorded two of three albums for Samoth’s label, Nocturnal Art Productions.

Announcing the addition of Fjellström on drums in 2009, The Wretched End released debut "Ominous" via Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records in 2010. That album was followed by "Inroads" in 2012 (reviewed here).

Due to Samoth’s extensive involvement with the assemblage of Emperor’s 20th anniversary headliner shows for pivotal album "In the Nightside Eclipse," the recording process of "In These Woods, From These Mountains" has been a longer journey than originally intended.

“It’s great to finally have this album ready for release,” comments Samoth. “It took us some years for various reasons; different things in our every day and professional lives that took a lot of focus on our parts. We never felt any great pressure. Looking back, I think the whole process affected the album in a positive way.” Continuing he confirms, “I personally feel I’ve almost come full circle with this new album, bringing more elements rooted in the darkness of black metal.”

The album features design work by Norwegian artists Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve (Ulver, Arcturus, Enslaved) and will be released by Indie Recordings. The track listing is:

1. Dead Icons
2. Primordial Freedom
3. Old Norwegian Soul
4. Generic Drone
5. Misery Harbour
6. Atheos
7. The Decline and Fall
8. Burrowing Deep
9. Dewy Fields