New Album "Violent Nature" Out November 1st, 2019
Western Canadian Dates (AB/BC)
(L-R): Turner Midzain – Guitar/Vocals, Kevin Nelson –
Drums,Mike Badmington – Bass/Vocals
Photo Credit: Trevor Hatter
Calgary’s Woodhawk are at it again with a new album being released in November! With it comes their second single "Heartsopper” is premiering via TheObelisk.net HERE.
The track comes from “Violent Nature”, the band's sophomore album, which steps away from the science fiction themes evident on their previous release 2017's "Beyond The Sun" and takes a more therapeutic turn, as the band explains:
“On previous efforts, we wrote from a science fiction standpoint. It’s where we all were at, at the point in our lives and reflected what we wanted to say and represent. Now, we believe in honesty and find the therapeutic side of music. This album has been an expressive honest view into our lives over the past 2 years.”
Putting a lot of time and production into the new album with producer Jesse Gander (Rain City Recorders), Woodhawk has worked really hard to capture energy and emotion. The second single is an observation of how we all have friends who live different lives from our own. Vocalist/guitarist Turner explains further:
"'Heartstopper' was the first song we wrote for the album and was definitely reworked more than anything else on the record. Usually, we scrap the first few we write until we find our groove. But this one just stuck. It tells the tale of how I have friends who live in completely different worlds and live totally different lives. One one side, I have this friend who has faced every major health complication, someone, their age should ever have faced and perceived. But still has the most positive outlook on life. On the other side, the friends who abuse substances and cheat death to the closest point and have no true appreciation for their own life. The juxtaposition in this situation just kind of hit home with all of us."
For fans of Black Sabbath, The Sword, and Clutch, "Violent Nature" is available for pre-order via the band's Bandcamp.
See Woodhawk live on the following dates: Oct 25 - Vancouver, BC - Railway Club Oct 26 - Kamloops, BC - Pogue Mahones Nov 2 - Beer Launch Party - New Level Brewing in Calgary (New Level Brewing and Woodhawk have teamed up to make a Violent Nature Beer! Come down to New Level Brewing, for the beer launch. Woodhawk will be down there all day spinning records, selling merch and drinking the fine nectars they’ve created with New Level Brewing.) Nov 8 - Calgary, AB - Palomino (Album Release Show) Nov 9 - Edmonton, AB - Temple w/ The Wild!
Track Listing:
1. Snake In The Grass (4:46)
2. Weightless Light (3:38)
3. Dry Blood (4:30)
4. Heartstopper (4:40)
5. Old Silence (4:46)
6. Clear The Air (5:32)
7. Violent Nature (5:31)
8. As A Friend (4:31)
9. Our Greatest Weakness (6:57)
Album Length: 44:54
For more info: Woodhawkriffs.com
About:
From the foot of the majestic Rocky Mountains hails Calgary, AB’s rock n’ roll trio Woodhawk. Masters of the straight-ahead riff rock, Woodhawk blends classic rock influences of Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy with smooth grooves, cranked amps, and heavy-hitting drums. The coalescence of melodious vocals, catchy riffs, and dynamic instrumentation creates a vast soundscape for the listener to explore. With lyrical themes of science fiction and sorcery to more recent themes of struggles and triumph, Woodhawk wears their heart on their sleeve.
Woodhawk began in 2014 with the release of a self-titled EP, followed by the critically acclaimed full length “Beyond The Sun” in 2017. A melodically rich and varied album, steeped in science fiction themes and packed with undeniably catchy riffs, “Beyond the Sun” cemented Woodhawk’s status as a desert rock band with unlimited potential to break through into the mainstream. Rather than taking their freewheelin’ brand of lyrical chrono-metal into the comfortable bracket of factory-produced R’n’R, Woodhawk elected to explore the road less traveled.
Returning to Rain City Recorders in Vancouver, BC during February 2019, Woodhawk worked with Jesse Gander (Anciients, Bison, 3 Inches of Blood, Japandroids, Pack AD) to record their sophomore album “Violent Nature”. Over the course of 2 weeks, Woodhawk tracked their strongest effort yet, producing songs that address the struggles of mental health straight on, and laying it all on the line. Woodhawk’s new material abandons the world of fantasy in pursuit of emotional authenticity and self-discovery.
Our heroes’ quest for clarity and independence has landed them on the precipice of ambition and accomplishment. It’s a true turning point of entry for Woodhawk’s lofty yet assertive life-goals. The elegant anthems and pulsing chords of the next phase in the group’s sonic evolution can scarcely be contained. Grounded with one foot in the present and another in the dynamic future, Woodhawk’s outlook is as boundless as their command of their genre. With the new album due out on November 2, 2019, their intelligence, inventiveness and an uncanny knack for generating timeless tunes are ready to flood the senses and tug at the spirit with an easy-going nonchalance that embraces the audience with confidence and jean-jacketed arms.
Woodhawk features guitarist Turner Midzain, bassist Mike Badmington, and drummer Kevin Nelson. They have taken the stage at the Commodore Ballroom, Sled Island, and UP+DT, in addition to multiple Canadian tours. They have also shared the stage in support of Airbourne, Truckfighters, Elder, and The Shrine. Woodhawk has their sights set on touring North America and Europe to bring their highly energetic and captivating live performance to new audiences.
#12 on National Loud Top 20 for 2017- Canadian College Radio Charts (Earshot) (Album – Beyond The Sun)
The best Canadian metal of 2017: Top 15, according to Hellbound.ca – #13 – Woodhawk (Album – Beyond The Sun)
“Calgarian riff-riders Woodhawk kicked off the proceedings, hitting all the gritty notes with their raucous roadhouse metal. Propane and Jack flowed freely as the golden western trio woke all them witches with their thematic rock fury.” – Beatroute (AB)
“The riffs are so catchy you’ll be humming them long after you remove headphones and the songs are so good you will be craving the next chance you get to sit down and listen to them again.” – The Sludgelord – Beyond The Sun Review (May 2017)
“Taking influence from bands such as Kyuss, The Sword and Truckfighters. Woodhawk offer a refreshing style of Psych Stoner Metal with moments of Fuzz and Desert Rock that add extra grit to their music.” – Outlaws of The Sun
“Take Red Fang, The Sword and Witchcraft, strip them of nearly all distortion and add a canny knack for catchy as fuck riffs, with a psychedelic edge, and you arrive at the dusty doorstep of Calgarian stoner rockers Woodhawk!” – Worship Metal
