Hematite Play Gothic Country on Speak of the Devil EP
Country music has always had a dark current running thru it. The further you move away from the clean, pop sound of modern Nashville, the closer you get to songs about heavy drinking, fighting, and broken hearts. Artists such as Johnny Cash and Eddie Noack gleefully sang murder ballads. The 90s saw the development of gothic country with bands such as Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, Legendary Shack Shakers, and the Handsome Family who found inspiration in American roots music and the more grotesque and strangely beautiful elements of rural American life. The tradition continues today with the hard-rocking duo of Hematite being the latest irritation of the dark current in country music.
Hematite consists of vocalist Davey Muise and guitarist/vocalist Andrew Gaultier. Both men are veterans of the hardcore and metal scenes. Muise previously played with the bands Vanna and Trove. Gaultier was a member of the groups Big 50, To Speak of Wolves, and He is Legend. Together they experimented with a twangy, country sound while still adhering to the heaviness of their rock backgrounds.
Hematite has taken this new dark country music and recorded it for a new EP. The album titled Speak of the Devil is set to be released on March 31st, 2023.
Speak of the Devil track listing:
1. Switchblade Symphony
2. Big Bad Wolf
3. Run Devil Run
4. Go West
5. AdiosHematite has already released three singles off Speak of the Devil. The first track to be released was “Big Bad Wolf.” The eerie song brings to mind images of deserted highways and cow skulls next to lonesome cacti. “Big Bad Wolf” sounds like the type of atmospheric song that would open a prestige show like Better Call Saul or Sons of Anarchy. There is an almost cinematic vibe to Hematite’s music.
The second single off Speak of the Devil came with a music video. “Adios” is equal parts heavy and twangy, and the accompanying music video highlights the more beautiful and joyful elements of both hard rock and country. In the video, attractive and heavily tattooed women enjoy a night out at a honky tonk bar. The video for “Adios” illustrates the sense of freedom that the hard rock lifestyle encourages as well as the complete lack of pretension inherent in country music.
“Adios was the first or second song Andrew and I sat down with,” said Davey Muise. “He sent over an older demo version and by the time I had vocals on it, he’d already had a sicker version in my inbox. To me, it’s where it all started, where the vibes hit me and I was taken into this new journey. I’m excited to see the feeling ‘Adios’ gives folks who listen.”
“Run Devil Run” is the latest single from Hematite. The video shot in black and white depicts a lonesome devil smoking cigarettes and contemplating life (or damnation) on a deserted beach.
“This song was written at a time of my life when I felt like I couldn’t slow down or hell would catch up with me,” said Muise. “That maybe if I keep pushing through the flames I won’t get burnt. It’s kind of a take on how we don’t check in on ourselves until it’s too late. Until there’s hell to pay. The reality is once you put yourself into so many fires, you either burn out or become the flame yourself, burning everything around you. In this song, I felt like I was doing both.”
Speak of the Devil is the type of album for people who cannot get enough of Tom Wait’s gravelly voice and barroom wisdom or who heard Johnny Cash cover of Nine Inch Nails and thought, “I want to hear more music like this!” Hematite and their dark western outlook will dig deep into your psyche and soul.
