EPK – Gnarwhal – Altered States (EP) (2024)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
“We hope our progression as a band and as songwriters appeals to our fans and listeners. The Altered States EP is a bit darker and maybe heavier than our first album. Conceptually and thematically, the songs on the EP fit together better as a package and we hope this is conducive to a front to back experience for listeners.” – Benji Straker – Gnarwhal
For fans of The Sword, Kyuss, Mastadon, Elder, Truckfighters
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“Gnarwhal moves along at its own Fuzzed Out Stoner pace with its style of Hard Rock and slightly Doom tinged grooves. Taking cues from bands such as Mastodon, The Sword, Elder and King Buffalo, these guys walk a fine line between Classic and Modern day Stoner sensibilities especially with the Proggy Spaced out vibes. There’s a HEAVY METAL beast waiting to escape from the cleaner grooves that Gnarwhal plays and when it does escape from its cage, Gnarwhal becomes a more exciting creative unit.” – Outlaws of the Sun
““Tides,” a brutal, stormy track that meshes fuzzy, downtuned vibes with unrelenting proggy rhythms. Forlorn vocals that seem to prophesy the inevitable collapse of civilization, as illustrated by the single art.” – Doomed And Stoned
“Altered States follows Canadian four-piece Gnarwhal‘s 2023 self-titled debut full-length with four songs that effectively bring together atmosphere and impact in the six-minute “The War Nothing More” — big build in the second half leading to more immediate, on-beat finish serving as a ready instance of same — with twists that feel derived of the MastoBaroness school rhythmically and up-front vocal melodies that give cohesion to the darker vibe of “From Her Hands” after displaying a grungier blowout in “Tides.” The terrain through which they ebb and flow, amass and release tension, soar and crash, etc., is familiar if somewhat intangible, and that becomes an asset as the concluding “Altered States” channels the energy coursing through its verses in the first half into the airy payoff solo that ends.” – The Obelisk
“With their innovative sound and thought-provoking lyricism, Gnarwhal continues to push the boundaries of heavy music and establish themselves as a formidable force in the Canadian rock landscape and Altered States is a testament to Gnarwhal‘s ability to seamlessly blend diverse influences into a cohesive sonic tapestry.” – Amplify The Noise
“To Canada, Yellowknife to be precise, and the fuzzed-up, whacked-out goodness of Gnarwhal. The band has not long since released a nice little EP, Altered States, that simply oozes class. At times they inject a bit of space rock quirkiness – that should probably be quarkiness, given that first track Tides carries more than a whiff of Hawkwind about it – but for the most part this is wholesome, fuzzy doom of the highest order.” – Sentinel Daily
“rich in beautiful qualities in a vein that is both granite and catchy, these four titles confirm that Gnarwhal a group to follow closely. ” – Music Waves
[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]
Band: Gnarwhal
EP Title: Altered States
Release Date: May 24, 2024
Label: Self-Release
Track Listing:
1. Tides (3:37)
2. The War / Nothing More (6:36)
3. From Her Hands (3:46)
4. Altered States (3:19)
EP Credits:
• All songs performed by: Gnarwhal
• All songs written by: Gnarwhal
• Produced by: Dan Ponich
• Mixed by: Dan Ponich
• Mastered by: David Collins
• Album Artwork by: Jonah Cutler
• Member of SOCAN
• All music is Canadian Content (MAPL)
EP and Band Band Line Up:
Mark Kilbride – Lead Vocals
Benji Straker – Guitar / Vocals
Jeremy Straker – Bass / Vocals
Layne Rybchinski – Drums / Vocals
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About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
Musically the EP as a whole is really inspired by the music I was listening to at the time of writing each song. I have a basis for what I want a Gnarwhal song to sound like, then draw in aspects from the influences that are in my life at the time. There also needs to be a cohesive flow or feeling to the EP which in this case, musically, is a bit darker and heavier than our last release.- Benji
There seems to be a common thread to most of the lyrics on the album and I feel listeners will be able to relate their own experiences to the songs. I know what these songs mean to me and try to steer toward authentic emotions to accompany the instruments.
The songs on the album portray a sense of resilience and a fight against the complexities of our own thoughts and emotions. No matter how much the characters in the songs endure, you can still feel a sense of hope and resilience. – Mark
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
TIDES
Tides came along from the main riff that had been spinning around in my head for quite some time and a vocal melody that I could also hear over top of it. I really wanted to do something that was a bit of a departure vocally and was really into melodies that Stephen Brooks (singer of Torche) writes and performs. I also like the vocal range space he sits in.
The chorus lead takes some inspiration from Russian Circles and once that came together we had a pretty solid track. Lyrically, I just looked in my notebook full of lyrics and picked some doomy stuff that portrays a dark feeling of missing out on things past and being trapped in an apocalyptic feeling. – Benji
The War/Nothing More
This is actually two songs that I wrote at completely different times that we thought would work well stitched together. I wrote The War shortly after we finished recording our first album. At that same time I was writing music for my Hughes project EP so lyrically and thematically it fit right in line with that. Once I finished it, I actually released it as an acoustic solo version on the EP, Here I Am.
The Nothing More demo was written shortly after and musically it was inspired by my classic post-hardcore/punk influences. I think Refused would be the main driver of the rhythm on this track. – Benji
In Nothing more, I am fond of the lyric: “Shed your skin to make it”. This part relates to putting in the work day in and day out, wanting something so bad you are willing to do anything just to grasp it. Pushing your own boundaries, knowing you put the time and effort into your vision.
“Whole again you can’t fake it”: Being authentic. To be whole this character has to believe in this process and be present in his delivery of the songs. – Mark
3) From Her Hands:
Stones slipping from her hands, down to the ground like yesterday. Tides of hope for tomorrow are coming down to wash you away.
These lyrics come alive in the outro of this track. The stone slipping from her hands could symbolize so many things that we try to hold on to. What is meaningful to you and worth holding?
What are you willing to do to keep the stone from slipping away? A search for what you value comes to mind and the fight to protect what matters to you the most. – Mark
4) Altered States:
“Take what is left of me cause I’m the one you saved”
An appreciation for the difficult times, as much as it makes this character hurt, it shapes them at the same time.
Wanting to belong, finding a purpose
Many of the traits we all share as human beings
“Gone are the Memories” represents an entire lifetime of experiences and wanting to hold on to these memories. All the relationships we create, trying to remember who we are and fighting for this with everything we have.
Failed to see her memories – I love this lyric and it was written while listening to the tracks. This was one of the lines that kept coming back to me. I feel this line is relatable and it would be interesting to hear the stories out there that could stem from this lyric. You know, from the point of view of the listener. I know what it means to me and it is quite powerful, and I can’t wait to share this live. – Mark
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Fun Facts – Story Angles:
1. On the day of our very first show, Layne started feeling ill in the afternoon. We were headlining to a sold out room so the show had to go on. Layne showed up late for load in and soundcheck and spent the majority of soundcheck in the bathroom on the toilet.
When the opening bands were playing, Layne was nowhere to be found. He showed up to the venue 5 minutes before our set looking like a ghost and like he just lost 30lbs. He downed 3 or 4 Jagermeister shots and played flawlessly while feeling miserable. At the end of our setlist, he begged us not to play an encore, but the crowd asked for it and Layne had to struggle through 2 more songs. – Benji
2. On tour, Jeremy eats his cereal with water. But he gives it 110% every time. – Layne
3. Prior to landing on the band name, Gnarwhal, we went by the name Witchfinger (for a week or two). It was a joke on a cramped finger Mark had at a practice but everyone we told thought we were saying “which finger?” – Jeremy
4. In August 2023, our city was under a wildfire evacuation alert. Our rehearsal spot is right at the edge of town where the fire was approaching. So on the day the alert was released we completely emptied our jamspace of all gear and stored it in a cube van in Benji’s driveway (he lives on the opposite side of town). The next day – the entire city went under mandatory evacuation so everyone had to leave for three weeks while fire crews (including Jeremy who stayed back to work the fire line) fought the fire. The city was saved, our gear was spared, and Jeremy is a hero! – Benji
Gnarwhal is a genre-bending four-piece rock band that weaves heavy alternative fuzz rock with progressive metal intricacies and doom-tinged grooves. Originating in the remote northern Canadian city of Yellowknife in 2021, the band swiftly coalesced and emerged as a leading catalyst in the resurgence of heavy music within their home territory.
Drawing inspiration from prominent acts such as Mastodon, The Sword, Elder, and King Buffalo, Gnarwhal navigates a musical spectrum that gracefully straddles the realms of classic and contemporary fuzz and heavy rock. They artfully intermingle these elements with nods to ’90s grunge influences, paying homage to their collective punk and heavy metal tastes.
Their inaugural self-titled album, “Gnarwhal,” was released in early 2023. The impressive debut earned them a nomination for a 2023 Western Canadian Music Award, in the Metal and Hard Music category. In 2022, they also claimed the Best New Single award at the inaugural 2022 Music NWT Awards.
Gnarwhal has had the privilege of sharing stages with notable acts and has left their mark on some domestic festivals and stages in Western Canada, helping establish their status as a burgeoning force within the Canadian rock landscape. With their innovative sound and distinctive blend of genres, Gnarwhal is poised to leave an impression on the heavy music scene.
Gnarwhal’s sophomore release, the Altered States EP, will be dropping on May 24th, 2024.
Awards and Nominations:
2023 – Nomination for Western Canadian Music Award (Metal and Heavy Music Category)
2022 – Best New Single Award (NWT Music Awards) for the single “Deep Spaced”
Discography:
2024 – Altered States – EP
2023 – Gnarwhal (self-titled)
2023 – Ember Sky Ash (single)
2022 – Deep Spaced (single)
2022 – The Outlier (single)
Tours and Festivals:
2024 – The Electric Highway, Calgary AB
2023 – Breakout West, Kelowna BC
2023 – Kelowna BC, Rossland BC, Calgary AB
2023 – Snow King Festival, Yellowknife NT
2022 – Folk on the Rocks Festival, Yellowknife, NT
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