Druids are one of those bands that I expect to be cropping up in more places over the next few years. Just from hearing their new single "The Whip," it's immediately clear that these guys are onto something special. "The Whip" sounds like early Mastodon slowed down, stripped out a lot of the weird sound effects, and maybe recruited Scott Kelly and full-time as their vocalist. It's a song that mixes stoner riffs with furious vocals perfectly, yet forges its own identity with massive drum breaks around the 2 minute mark and full-band unison lines toward the end that are sure to knock your teeth right to the back of your throat.
Get stoked on Druids. They're damn good and they're releasing their new album Monument on April 19 via The Company KC. Pre-order that here on vinyl or grab a digital copy, and get into the concept below.
The concept of Monument is based on a young person’s journey through the afterlife. Although they have departed from their world, they are still learning and growing as a spirit. Each song on Monument depicts experiences of mystical worlds that our protagonist encounters and grows from. Some lessons are beautiful and some brutal. There are personal experiences in the lyrics, as I feel the band and myself growing in the way the character does.
Guitarist/vocalist Luke Rauch says, “There are personal experiences in the lyrics, as even now, I feel the band and myself growing in the way the character does.”
Bassist/vocalist Drew Rauch says about “The Whip”, “This is one of the more high-energy songs on the album. We wrote it with the guitar being a driving force, and really wanted a bigger solo section in this particular song as well. Lyrically, “The Whip” takes us through more of a high-action part of the story, describing the harsh conditions of the desert world of the afterlife and the people that live within it. It’s a tough, strict life that they live.”
Catch Druids on tour at one of the dates below and follow 'em on Facebook.
3/13 San Antonio, TX @ The Guillotine
3/14 Austin, TX @ Spider House Cafe (at SXSW)
3/15 Ft. Worth, TX @ Ridglea Theater
3/16 Oklahoma City, OK @ The Blue Note
4/19 Kansas City, MO @ Union Library
4/20 Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s
4/27 Lawrence, KS @ Replay Lounge
6/6 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bazaar (w/ Modern Life Is War)
6/7 Asbury Park, NJ @ House of Independents (w/ Modern Life is War)
6/9 Boston, MA @ Great Scott (w/ Modern Life is War)
