San Francisco, California based Doom/Doomgaze/Post-Metal band Sleepbomb published new single and official video “Refuge/Resist” taken from their upcoming album, “The Sleeping Dead,” set to release on January 24, 2025 via Koolarrow Records and Consouling Sounds. Watch the video through the YouTube player below:
“‘Refuge/Resist’ is like the film itself.” explains Clair Hamard. “Alternating long, uncertain pauses with both dramatic and physical tension. Just like the scene in the movie that presents characters at complete odds with each other building up a precarious shelter threatened by the zombies amassing outside, the harmonic construction of this track is constantly challenged by an imminent dissonant attack.”
With every moment of calmness, supported by repetitive Drone-sounds, Sleepbomb deliver the symbiosis of etherial vocal harmonies and agressive riffing. While the absence of any real resolution at the end of the track heralds the future failure of the plan hatched by the characters, unable to cooperate.
According to bassist, Tim Gotch: “‘Refuge/Resist” reflects the dichotomy of the film ‘as a whole.’ “It begins as a refuge for Barbara, who enters the seemingly deserted house while fleeing from the zombie. She quickly discovers that the house is less of a refuge than she thought, exacerbated by the abrupt arrival of Ben. Ben quickly proves himself to not be a threat as he dispatches multiple zombies.”
Subtitled “Excerpts from their score for George Romero’s 1968 ‘Night of the Living Dead’” and based on their full length score for the film, “The Sleeping Dead” is an epic serving of filmic Doom. Starting with the drum parts fully synchronized with the cinematic imagery, during the recording process each track was pared down to the essential character of each scene from the most influential zombie film of them all. “Unlike ‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,’ we knew that the final product would not be a fully synchronized score due to rights issues and the large amount of dialogue in the film.” states Sleepbomb’s Tim Gotch. “This meant that we were able to edit down some of the longer sections into a “song” format and really focus on the feel of the scenes for ‘The Sleeping Dead’ record itself rather than retaining the full-length of tracks just for timing requirements.”
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Earhammer Studios by Greg Wilkinson (High On Fire, Autopsy), “The Sleeping Dead” shows Sleepbomb in a Heavy, focused mood.
Pre-Order “The Sleeping Dead” on October 31, 2024 via Koolarrow Records in North America. And Consouling Sounds in EU/ROW. Or on Bandcamp HERE
Sleepbomb is a San Francisco-based Psychedelic Doom project focused on full, original scores for genre films including the German expressionist silent masterpieces – The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu and Metropolis. Historically a live experience, Sleepbomb has performed their scores across the West coast of the US since 2003 and now has set their sights on expanding to the East coast and the world for 2025.
Originally stylistically close to a chaotic version of Throbbing Gristle vs Black Sabbath, Sleepbomb has been exploring Experimental sounds and forms, guided by the band’s love of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Coil, Neurosis, Sunn 0))), Ulver and Swans, among others. Settling on a drone influenced style of Doom Metal as the overarching theme while exploring other genres as appropriate for each film’s particular style, Sleepbomb’s goal is to re-contextualize the experience of these well-known films. They succeed in this goal.
Sleepbomb joined Bill Gould’s Koolarrow Records and Belgium’s Consouling Sounds in 2023 for the release of their score for the classic 1920 German expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. They are overjoyed to repeat this collaboration for their January 2025 release of “The Sleeping Dead“: excerpts from an alternate score for George Romero’s “Night Of The Living Dead.”
Tracklist:
01. Cemetery Song
02. Refuge/Resist
03. Flames From Afar
04. It Was A Good Plan
05. Emergency Broadcast Network
06. The Basement Is The Safest Place
07. Another One For The Fire
08. Refuge/Resist (Film Version)
09. Flames From Afar (Film Version)
10. The Basement Is The Safest Place (Film Version)
Lineup:
Charlie Hernandez / Guitars
Tim Gotch / Basses, Synths
Rob Johnson / Drums and Percussion
Claire Hamard / Vocals, Synths, Electronics
