THE MOTH: Treble Premieres “Battlefield” Video From German Doom/Sludge Metal Trio; Fourth LP, Frost, Nears Release Via Exile On Mainstream
Photo By José Lorenzo & Cécile AshOn September 8th, 2023 - the German based Sludge/Doom Metal band THE MOTH unleashed the music video for their latest single “Battlefield” through Treble. The video is in anticipation for the release of their upcoming 4th album Frost which is due for release on 9/22 through Exile On Mainstream.
With Frost, THE MOTH takes their approach to new heights. Like a dislodged meat hook, catchy lines stick in the listener's heart and mind, explaining why the band calls their music doom-sludge pop, as in “Kim Wilde meets Bolt Thrower” – or as Hysteria put it: “pop music played with a bulldozer.” The lyrics of THE MOTH, however, reveal a new sense of vulnerability and openness under the raw power of the songs. An ongoing theme of experiencing and living through strokes of fate runs throughout the record - all under a distinctive and deliberately raw sound. Bassist/vocalist Cécile Ash, guitarist/vocalist Freden Mohrdiek, and drummer Curry Korr perform the dichotomy with a high recognition value. Boring riff hum and mantric stoner-esque repetition are not their thing.
“Often, the worst emotional injuries come from a direction we would never expect – from the people closest to us. In those moments, there seems to be no solace to be found, and we feel abandoned. Sometimes, the pain is so intense, or the shame is so overwhelming that we cannot (yet) talk about it, and we are left alone with our grief. We put on a smile for the world, even though we are being torn apart inside. In doing so, we deny ourselves and, to exaggerate it slightly, we slowly destroy our souls - with each of these situations a bit more. Perhaps this is not an exaggeration, but rather the reality”
On the premiere for “Battlefield” Treble has this to say, “The video is a raw mix of live-in-rehearsal-space rocking out and walks through their native Hamburg, while the song itself is an absolute ripper. Blending thick, murky riffs befitting the heaviest doom metal bands with a knack for hooks and immediacy, the band navigates similar terrain as bands such as Torche and Kylesa, making heavy music that isn’t afraid to be a little catchy.”
Since forming in 2012, THE MOTH released their first album They Fall to enthusiastic reviews. They have been attracting fans from all over the world, including Tokyo and Vancouver. In addition to their festival appearances at Desertfests in London and Berlin, Stoned From The Underground, Svart Festival Oslo, Doom Over Vienna, and Riff Mass Brighton, the band released And Then Rise in 2015 and Hysteria in 2017. THE MOTH left enthusiastic fans behind on tours and shows throughout Europe and the UK with Treedeon, Conan, Eyehategod, Crowbar, Torche, and Red Fang.
Frost marks THE MOTH's debut on Exile On Mainstream after three albums on This Charming Man. On multiple tours and gigs, the sludge/doom metal band has honed its no-nonsense approach to sludge/doom metal, instead opting for brutal and bewitching hammer-heavy drums and riff-heavy rock. The Hamburg trio has consistently delivered tracks with a catchiness that’s very surprising for their genre since releasing their critically acclaimed debut album, They Fall in 2013.
Frost will be released on September 22nd digitally and on 140-gram pure virgin Black Vinyl including a bundled CD. Find physical preorders at the Exile On Mainstream webshop HERE and digital at Bandcamp HERE, and watch the previously released “Dust” video HERE.
THE MOTH has already confirmed a string of release dates including shows with Thronehammer and labelmates Treedeon with more to be posted shortly.
THE MOTH Record Release Shows:9/22/2023 Störtebecker – Hamburg, DE w/ Treedeon10/03/2023 Alte Meierei – Kiel, DE w/ Thronehammer10/04/2023 Fundbureau – Hamburg, DE w/ Thronehammer10/05/2023 MTC – Cologne, DE w/ Thronehammer10/06/2023 Immerhin – Wuerzburg, DE10/07/2023 Keep It Low Festival – Munich, DE11/17/2023 Thav – Hildesheim, DE w/ with Shakhtyor11/18/2023 Die Trompete – Bochum, DE w/ Treedeon
THE MOTH IS:Cécile Ash - Bass/VocalsFreden Mohrdiek - Guitar/VocalsChristian Korr - Drums