Whenever a band disappears from the scene for a good while, my first thought is to expect the announcement of an extended hiatus. A close second, however, is the introduction of some new project or spinoff. So if you’ve been wondering where hardcore punks Campaign have been over the past year or more, the quick answer is they’ve been in hibernation. A more thorough explanation, though, involves the creation of a new band, one that goes by the name Young Beasts.
Consisting of Campaign’s York Henderson (guitar) and Dillon Knight (drums), alongside Brett Butler (guitar) and Twitch (bass, vocals) of Dropout and Dead Oath, Young Beasts are preparing to release their first single tomorrow, a bruising two-song effort that showcases the group’s ferocious mix of hardcore, punk, and thrash. Of the two cuts, lead track “Black Waves” is the more melodic and accessible, but it still attacks with plenty of abrasive noise and acerbic energy to spare. Indeed, fans of the aforementioned groups should plenty to like here with the foursome nimbly walking the tightrope between their extreme tendencies and music that just plain roars and rips in a more traditional sense.
Still, lurking beyond the song’s scorching riffs and lacerating vocals is something darker and more bleak. According to Henderson, “Black Waves” was inspired by John Langan’s cosmic horror novel The Fisherman, which helps account for the grim atmosphere that permeates much of the track. “The book deals heavy in existential dread and the occult, and I had just finished it when we started the band,” Henderson says. “[I] knew from the start I wanted to write a song about it.”
Listen below.
Young Beasts will make their live debut on Sat., Apr. 13 at 529 alongside Holy Beach. 21+ to enter.
More Info
Bandcamp: youngbeasts.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @youngbeastsband