Musicians have been overlaying Glenn Danzig’s legendary horror-punk act The Misfits since Metallica launched their variations of “Inexperienced Hell” and “Final Caress” on the Storage Days EP in 1987. Some may argue that The Misfits cowl enterprise has reached the purpose of overkill. However we’re prepared to make an exception when the overlaying is dealt with by vocalist Kyle Ball of Wake, the superlative band that acquired best-of-the-year checklist inclusion from Decibel for his or her two latest albums Devouring Break and Distress Rites. We anticipated high quality, and Wolfsblut A.D: Earth After Demise doesn’t disappoint. Moreover, this isn’t only a assortment of covers however somewhat a reimagining of a complete album from a blackened punk aesthetic. Ball and his collaborators — guitarist Jordan Schritt, drummer Dave Callahan, and bassist Kellen Wyslouzil — have performed one thing particular with the document.
Stream the complete album beneath and skim a Q&A with Ball on the making of Wolfsblut. The document was a labor of affection and is offered as a free Bandcamp obtain. Take pleasure in, and in the event you don’t get your poseur card instantly.
How did you get into the Misfits?
I used to be 12 after I first obtained into punk rock. My first punk bands had been like Inexperienced Day (laughs). I feel my first Misfits album was Stroll Amongst Us, after which I obtained the 2 collections. These three albums had been staples of my life, and I listened to The Misfits on a regular basis.
What about their music spoke to you?
Effectively, I’m large into outdated sci-fi and horror. And there have been virtually two Mifists — the punk Misfits and the proto-thrash Misfits. The songs on the finish of the collections had been the Earth A.D. songs, and so they at all times floored me. I didn’t even know at first the Misfits seemed like that or that Earth A.D. was a separate album. Then I obtained it, and I haven’t stopped listening to it in 26 years.
Was it at all times your thought to cowl the complete document?
Fifteen years in the past, I lived in Edmonton, and I used to be enjoying in a hardcore band. I’ve thought of doing this that far again. However my authentic concepts had been just a little bit completely different – I thought of doing it in a grindcore method. That shifted, and I feel the sound we finally went with suited the fabric higher. I’ve been listening to a whole lot of black metallic, which appears to suit the fabric. A grindcore strategy could be blast beat heavy. The way in which we did it, we saved the blast beats to a minimal.
How did you document this with COVID-19 flaring?
The three of us obtained collectively over the course of a month throughout the pandemic. COVID wasn’t as dangerous right here in Canada, and we tried to remain as distant from one another as we may within the jam area. We simply jammed it after which went into the studio in early November 2019 and recorded it. The factor about Earth A.D. is that nobody covers these songs for essentially the most half. Individuals at all times find yourself overlaying “Skulls” or “Hybrid Moments” or “Final Caress.” Many of those songs are untouched, and I feel there are half I’ve by no means heard coated.
For many individuals into metallic, Earth A.D. is the Misfits album. Why?
I don’t know. It’s simply so aggressive, and it got here out on the proper time and had a big impact.
Are there any plans for a conventional launch?
A tape label reached out to me however I’m undecided what I wish to do with it because it’s not my music. At first, I believed it might be cool to press it, however over time, I began feeling bizarre about it.
What about getting a replica to Glenn or Jerry?
One of many tags I used on YouTube was, “please don’t sue me, Danzig.” I’m sort of afraid somebody will catch wind of it and ship us a cease-desist. However I’d love for them to listen to it and inform me what they assume.