Wykan – “Brigid: Of The Night” (EP) (2019)
For fans of Pink Floyd meets Black Sabbath meets Mayhem
Release Date: June 7, 2019
Label: Self-Release
Publicist – Jon Asher – asher(@)ashermediarelations.com
Drums: Dug Kawliss
Vocals: Barrie Butler
Guitars: J Harley Perkins
Bass: Corey Thomas
“an impressive debut, with enough hooks to catch ears wherever it gets play. So grab yourself a copy, turn it up, and consume some mean doom.” – The Burning Beard (Review – Solace EP 2018)
“A strange and bewildering piece of psychedelic doom metal, inspired by both old school doom and black metal, this debut by Canadian act Wykan is certainly something special. ” – Merchants of Air (Review – Solace EP 2018)
“Montreal riff metallers Wykan make their debut April 13 with the SolaceEP. It is not intended for background listening. Even at three tracks/24 minutes, it’s not the kind of thing you “just put on” while you’re picking up around the house or working or whatever you might be doing. It demands attention and demands it early.” – The Obelisk (Review – Solace EP 2018)
““The Gathering” is an undeniably intense song that passes through changing shades of mystery, tension, torment, and gloom. The stage is set through a slow, reverberating guitar melody, whose ringing tones create a mystical aura, and by a solemn, heavy riff that itself has an otherworldly cast. The increasingly acrobatic drumming and the vibrancy of the throbbing bass drive the energy of the song higher, as does the swirling lead, which creates a feeling of growing disquiet and pain, made even more distraught by the vocal combination of acidic rasping shrieks and harsh roars.” – No Clean Singing (Review – Solace EP 2018)
“Impressively eclectic, undefined by any one genre, with a healthy disregard for boundaries, ‘Solace’ could easily be called a cutting-edge production, traversing many genres and perceived barriers, within metal. Less of an EP to enjoy and kick back with and more one to concentrate your thoughts on, perhaps, but otherwise, it’s intelligently thought provocative, with touches of genius.” – Jenny Tate’s Blog (Review – Solace EP 2018)
L-R – Tom Kawliss = Drums, Barrie Butler = Vocals, J Harley Perkins = Guitars, Corey Thomas = Bass
Photo Credit Jeremy Perkins (Sowilo Arts)
Founded in 2017 by guitarist Jeremy Perkins, the project plays a blend of Psychedelic Doom / Heavy Blues / Stoner Rock and Black Metal in the classic format of bass, drums, and guitar. Their experimental and massive sounding music is best described as Pink Floyd meeting Black Sabbath meeting Mayhem for those who have never heard the band.
In just under 8 months of the band being founded, WYKAN unleashed their debut EP “Solace” to the masses in April 2018. The EP delivered a heavy brew, blending a soup of atmospheric groove, spirits of heavy riffs and hot tubes overridden and pushed to the limits in a ceremonial manner. As they continue on their path of ceremonial heaviness, WYKAN returns in 2019 with their sophomore EP “Brigid: Of The Night” to follows the band’s plan of releasing an EP every six to ten months and keep fans on a ceremonial run of emotion and space.
“We want to give fans a trip for the mind, without barriers and hooks, just plain vibes and atmosphere. This next EP is overall hits more classic riffing to go with each genre we touch in each of the songs. As a story, “Brigid: Of The Night” is about the Celtic Goddess known as Brigid. The whole thematic and three songs are a historical take on ceremonies and festivities based on her deity representation and relationship with the Celtic peoples of Ireland pre-Christianity.” says Perkins.
The band’s line up for the EP features guest drummer Simon McKay of The Agonist rattling his talents on track #3 Reul-Iuil Bride (Star of Brigid) along WYKAN and EOHUM founder Jeremy Perkins on guitar, vocalist Barrie Butler (Eohum, ex-Tard), bassist Corey Thomas, best known for his own Jazz ensemble Backwater Township and drummer Dug Kawliss (ex-Tempete) who is on tracks #1 Imbolc (The Cleansing) and #2 Breo-Saighead (Triple Goddess).
“Brigid: Of The Night” EP is slated for release on June 7, 2019, and will be available on Bandcamp as a $1 EP or more Pay-What-You-Want download.
Welcome to the Wykan Cult Gathering and ceremony.
Track By Track explanation:
1. Imbolc (The Cleansing) (7:30) – Is about the poems written in scriptures about the Goddess and the beginning of spring ceremonies in celebration of the Goddess of fertility. This song is atmospheric and starts off as a very rock, very 1970’s bluesy sound and becomes slowly black-metalesque before having a deep death metal feel.
2. Breo-Saighead (Triple Goddess) (7:08) – This song speaks of the origin of Brigid and the representation of this deity amongst the Celtic pre-Christian peoples of Ireland. This song starts off very Stoner Rock, goes into some blacked doom and ends very Doomy, an ode to the Riff!
3. Reul-Iuil Bride (Star of Brigid) (5:20) – Is a description of how the festivities went as an ode to Brigid pre springs arrival and some details about her and her strengths and metaphorical representations for the people. This song is more of the blackened doom song of the album.
Shared Stage with: Frayle, Astral Witch, Ritual Master, Doom N Blue
Discography:
2019 – Brigid: Of The Night (EP)
2018 – Solace (EP)
