Psychedelic Metal Trio DRUIDS Reveal Drum Playthrough Video for “New Breath”

Des Moines, Iowa-based psychedelic/stoner metal trio DRUIDS recently released their new album, Monument, via The Company KC. The album is available now via Bandcamp, with exclusive multi-colored vinyl also available via The Company KC here: https://thecompanykc.bigcartel.com/

 

Today, DRUIDS revealed a brand new drum playthrough for the track “New Breath”. Watch now via Sick Drummer: https://sickdrummermagazine.com/news/latest-news/keith-rich-druids-new-breath-drum-play-through/

 

Drummer Keith Rich tells Sick Drummer: “I started playing drums in about 1999 or so… freshman year of high school. Playing guitar was always more my thing and did that in bands, but I always kept getting drawn back to the drum set. It was more rock drummers of the time that really got me interested in playing drums. People like Jimmy Chamberlin, Taylor Hawkins, Lars Ulrich, and Butch Vig were my main idols. I’ve always had an affinity for alternative/ grunge-style bands and really took to the diversity in playing within the genre. Everyone played softer, harder, more straight forward or more technical… it was just a mixture and I loved that. I try to incorporate that into my drumming. When the opportunity came in 2008 to form a band with Luke (DRUIDS started as a two-piece), it seemed like a no-brainer. He wanted to rip some riffs on guitar and I wanted to slam on some drums in between tours with Radio Moscow. It just all came together from there and the rest is history.”

 

DRUIDS have also posted a guitar playthrough for their first single, “The Whip”. Watch here: https://youtu.be/Z4mNg09TKQg

 

While online, check out the retro, sci-fi inspired video for the same track “New Breath” – directed by Bo Becker of Transpiritus Video- here: https://youtu.be/7ebq_9NgFr4

 

Though Monument is an absolute classic metal-inspired riffscapade on its surface, there’s much more lying beneath its sonic exterior. Amid the ebb and flow of atmosphere and groove-heavy passages, the album tells a story – inviting the listener on a journey through the afterlife. Each song on Monument depicts the experiences of mystical worlds that the story’s protagonist encounters after death, and ultimately grows from. Some lessons are beautiful, and some brutal. Although they have departed from their world, they are still learning and growing as a spirit.

Monument was produced by Brandon Darner, engineered and mixed by Micah Natera, and mastered by Doug Van Sloan.

DRUIDS will hit the road in June for some dates with Modern Life is War and Krimewatch, as well as more solo dates. See below for all confirmed tour dates:

 

6/1 La Crosse, WI @ The Dive Bar

6/2 Bloomington, IL @ Nightshop

6/3 Detroit, MI @ PJ’s

6/4 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place

6/5 Pittsburgh, PA @ Howler’s

6/6 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bazaar (with Modern Life is War and Krimewatch)

6/7 Asbury Park, NJ @ House of Independents (with Modern Life is War and Krimewatch)

6/9 Allston, MA @ Great Scott (with Modern Life is War and Krimewatch)

6/10 New London, CT @ 33 Golden Street

6/11 Philadelphia, PA @ Century Bar

6/12 Cleveland, OH @ Now That’s Class

6/13 Louisville, KY @ Mag Bar

6/14 St. Louis, MO @ the Sinkhole

7/13 Des Moines, IA @ 80/35 Festival

DRUIDS first laid their destructive groundwork over two releases – Pray for Water and The Sound of Meditation (released in 2009 and 2013, respectively) – continually looking to push their own personal boundaries, physically and sonically. With the release of 2016’s Cycles of Mobeum, the boys embarked on a full year of heavy touring all over the United States, giving audiences in unsuspecting cities a heavy, cathartic live show, awash with wailing guitar solos, rhythmic drumming and chunky, grooving bass-lines. They took to the studio in early 2017 to record their follow up, Spirit Compass, with producer Brandon Darner (David Keuning, Radio Moscow) to shape what would be a smoldering follow-up.

 

 

“…DRUIDS are proving themselves among the scene’s notable and worthy acts.” – Revolver

“…an uproarious band that will please the shit out of fans tired of modern doom’s artsier side.”– Kerrang!

“…these guys are onto something special… Get stoked on DRUIDS. They’re damn good…” – Metal Injection

“‘Monument‘ is definitely a winner in the psychedelic/prog department…” – Metal Observer

“…brilliant… [Monument] is a work chock full of riffs, raspy vocals, and enough feedback to set your ears to ringing for weeks to come.”­ – Heavy Blog is Heavy

“Taking their cue from bands such as Mastodon, High on Fire, Torch and Red Fang, DRUIDSexpands and explores more of their psychedelic sludgy-blues influences with their melodic, ’70s prog-rock side.” – Des Moines Register

“DRUIDS are a meaningful yet entertaining proposition, mixing downright headbanging noise with delightfully leaden twists…” – Ghost Cult

Luke Rauch: Vocals/Guitar

Keith Rich: Drums

Drew Rauch: Vocals/Bass

 

IG: @druidsiowa