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British epic doom metallers GODTHRYMM -- featuring members once involved in such luminaries as My Dying Bride, Anathema, Vallenfyre, and Solstice -- return with their new album, Distortions, set for release on August 18th via Profound Lore Records.

The follow-up to 2020’s widely lauded Reflections shows the Halifax-based quartet of Hamish Glencross (guitars, vocals), Catherine Glencross (keyboards, vocals), “Sasquatch” Bob Crolla (bass), and Shaun “Winter” Taylor-Steels (drums) elegantly expanding upon their sound and vision. With tracks like “Follow Me,” featuring former My Dying Bride compatriot Aaron Stainthorpe, “Echoes,” and “Devils,” Distortions advances GODTHRYMM into the hallowed halls of the genre they adore to death.

“I absolutely wanted to create a much more layered and complex arrangement in the sound,” notes Glencross. “Totally amping up the contrasts to the extreme — the light shines brighter, and the darker depths are vast trenches. There is a lot more harmony and melancholy for much of it, but also some slab-heavy riffing, too. We wanted a total progression in the production and more class and clarity in the sound, as opposed to Reflections, which could get quite dense in tone.”

Distortions is the second part of Glencross’ Visions trilogy — the third part, Projections, is already in the works. Throughout its seven-track, hour-long expanse, GODTHRYMM’s sophomore effort delves deeper into the despondent march of post-pandemic singles “Chasm” and “In Perpetuum,” the latter released exclusively on Decibel Magazine’s Decibel Flexi Series in 2022. Glencross’ emotionally-charged vocals pair perfectly with his towering riffs and thoughtful, crestfallen harmonies. The rhythmic foundation of Crolla and Taylor-Steels is absolutely critical to Glencross’ woebegone éclat. With Catherine Glencross’ angelic vocals and atmospheric keyboards stitched into the monumental “As Titans,” the granite-hard “Obsess And Regress,” and the stirring “Pictures Remain,” Distortions has it all.

“The songwriting for Distortions began during the first lockdown,” Glencross says. “That inspired me to start writing and recording at home, and that structure helped define how we would ultimately write the album. It was very much isolated for the most part, though. I would write and record the first arrangement of a song and then send it through to the others, who would record their parts and send them back. Then, it would be a case of refining and rewriting as inspired by the contributions of everyone. Only one song, ‘Devils,’ was written in the rehearsal room before the rest of the album.”

For an album centered lyrically on grief, loss, regret, resolve, love, and determination, it’s hard to imagine something inexplicably heavy yet remarkably beautiful. Producer Andy Hawkins (Hark, Grave Lines) was the perfect man for the job. Spread across The Nave Studio in Leeds and Sasquatch Music Studio in Huddersfield, he captured GODTHRYMM at their most menacing (“Unseen Unheard”) and vulnerable (“Follow Me”). The tones he extracted from Glencross, Crolla, and Taylor-Steels absolutely crush, while the brighter moments (like Catherine Glencross’ spell-binding vocals on “Obsess and Regress”) splinter GODTHRYMM’s disheartened darkness in two. Distortions was mastered by Mark Midgley (Doom, Hellkrusher) for Northern Mastering Co.

Distortions Track Listing:

  1. As Titans
  2. Devils
  3. Echoes
  4. Obsess And Regress
  5. Unseen Unheard
  6. Follow Me
  7. Pictures Remain

For a band that formed in 2017, GODTHRYMM are on an impressive run. Not only have they proven to be a formidable live act—invites to Bloodstock Open Air, In Flammen Open Air, and Tomorrow’s Ghost Festival are but the beginning—but the group’s prolific output of three EPs, two singles, and two full-length albums have also repositioned England as the epicenter of high-quality, epic-sounding doom metal. The cover art by Andy Green (My Dying Bride) is simply a force multiplier. All eyes are on Godthrymm with Distortions.

“I hope we continue to evolve and progress,” Glencross says. “The sound is decidedly more complete [on Distortions] than the previous incarnations, which are quite primitive. I hope people connect with the passion and love we have put in. The themes are universal and eternal. I’m very grateful and touched any time anyone appreciates our work.”

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FAQ

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What does Godthrymm mean?

Godthrymm literally means “divine force” - our old guitarist Chaz came up with it. In truth, it meant no band had used it before, and the domain name was available. Job done

So who’s in Godthrymm then?

Hamish Glencross - vocals and guitar, Shaun Winter Taylor-Steels - drums, “Sasquatch” Bob Crolla - bass, Catherine Glencross / keys and vocals, and now Al Kotwal has joined on live guitar (he also appears in one song on the new album.

They look familiar-ish. Have they played in any other bands before?

Yeah, their musical history includes My Dying Bride, Vallenfyre, Anathema, Solstice and others.

Do Godthrymm play any songs from those bands?

No. We love those bands, but we have done occasional covers of Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Sepultura, and The Cure for a bit of fun!!

Hey, I saw Godthrymm with a different lineup before? Why that?

As time had progressed, we’ve adopted a more singular vision and so some folk left as that didn’t suit them. That’s absolutely fine and we wish them all the best!

Would Godthrymm like to play my show/festival/birthday party?

Yes! Contact us at booking@godthrymm.com - we just aim to cover all costs involved.

What gear do Godthrymm use?

We are proud endorsers of Kink Guitar Pedals and Czarcie Kopyto drum pedals. We also love Jackson and BC Rich guitars & basses, Seymour Duncan pickups, Peavey, Ashdown and Marshall amplification and Ludwig drums! ;-) ;-)

What record label are Godthrymm signed to?

Profound Lore Records.

Who does your artwork?

Brian D’Agosta of Gostworks Art. (or here!) The logo and Sigil were designed by Chris Casket of Casket Industries. Official band photography is by Frank Ralph. Paul Nicholson kindly did this website.

More Q&A to follow as need dictates!! ;

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