Australian sludge/doom outfit GHOSTSMOKER is proud to announce the release of their debut album Inertia Cult, out now via Art As Catharsis.
Pack your bong with ghosts and listen to ‘Elogium’
“We’ve grown a lot as a band since our first EP, Grief, in 2022, and that’s reflected in this album,” says vocalist Nathan Brunning. “Our confidence and understanding of who/what we are comes through on this release, and it sets a great foundation for what we do next.
“Apart from musical influences within the genre, there are plenty of nods to things outside that space that have found their way in,” continues Brunning. “Some of the atmospheric parts are definitely influenced by horror and sci-fi soundtracks, and our video for ‘Incarnate’ is a direct homage to the film Skinamarink. As kids of the ’80s and ’90s, that lo-fi aesthetic is deeply ingrained in us, so that found its way in here and there as well.”
Opening with haunting howls chased with bone-crushing riffs, ‘Incarnate’ is the first single from Inertia Cult. The song wages a careful balancing act between loud, hulking instrumentals and haunting ambient inspired sections, each one underscored by slamming drums and wild lashes of fuzz from every string struck. The final product is both hypnotic yet rhythmically punishing, a balancing act that, on face, is hard to achieve.
“‘Incarnate’ is about being stuck in a loop of despair and not being able to move forward through your grief and trauma,” says Brunning. “During the very early stages of writing for the album, my brother passed away suddenly which had a significant impact on the lyrical themes on the record. Our drummer Brayden’s father also passed away while we were in the studio recording the album, and the rest of us rallied together to finish the job in dedication to our friend who was going through such a painful time in life, and his father, who was his biggest supporter. The above, the hurdles of everyday life, relationships failing, new ones forming, etc., all ultimately fed into making this album what it is.”
Featuring six tracks recorded and mixed by Jason Fuller (Brutal Truth, King Parrot) and mastered by John Ruberto, with gorgeous cover art by Adam Burke (Unto Others, Terminal Nation), Inertia Cult represents an evolution for the Melbourne doom quartet. The band’s newly refined, collaborative approach to recording has allowed the band to hammer out powerful riffs, tighter song structures, and further experimentation with mood and atmospherics.
GHOSTSMOKER is scheduled to tour across Australian on a tour supporting Inertia Cult, hitting three cities across the Gold Coast beginning later this month.
Inertia Cult is out now on multiple formats via the Australian boutique label Art As Catharsis.
GHOSTSMOKER is:
Nathan Brunning – vocals
Ben Astbury – guitar
Rhys Brennan – bass
Brayden Becher – drums
Tour Dates:
4/12 – Sydney, AU @ Marrickville Bowlo
4/26 – Frankston, AU @ Singing Bird Studio
5/03 – Adelaide, AU @ Unibar