Hellbear have been around in various forms for a few years now, but the RVA metal band has received a new lease on life this year, and it shows on their upcoming self-titled EP, coming in September from Fake Art Fake Music. We've got the world premiere of the first song from that EP, "In Sand We Sit," for you to check out below, as well as the first opportunity to pre-order the entire EP!
Founded by Jared Kelley (guitar), Matt Wild (drums), and Rob Skotis (bass, also of Iron Reagan), Hellbear was initially conceived as a trio, and began playing gigs around Richmond in that configuration back in 2010. However, an ingredient was missing, and the members of Hellbear found the answer early this year, when former Jefferson Plane Crash/Psyopus vocalist Harrison Christy joined the band. Jared, Rob, and Matt still do some of the singing, but with Harrison doing the lion's share, the other band members are free to focus on their instruments. The benefit derived from this change-up is immediately obvious on their self-titled EP. Harrison's got a harsh, powerful voice, and the memorable riffing, unrelenting velocity, and brutal thrash power of the music that backs him up results in a truly excellent example of the form.
But don't take our word for it! For the first time anywhere, we've got the first song from Hellbear's upcoming self-titled EP for you to blow your crappy laptop speakers with. It's fast, it's heavy, it's downright ferocious--so get ready! Here's "In Sand, We Sit":
If you dig that (and how could you not?), be sure to head over to Fake Art Fake Music's website and scoop up a pre-order of the Hellbear EP, due for release on September 11. 250 copies of this 12-inch vinyl EP will be pressed on clear vinyl with blood red spatters. Pretty cool, right? Even cooler is the fact that the first 25 pre-orders placed will get a discount on the purchase price--$8 instead of $10. So don't dawdle--click the link now, grab that discount, and score your next bottle of Coke Zero (or 40 oz of OE--whatever floats your boat) courtesy of Fake Art Fake Music and Hellbear.
The official record release show for Hellbear's self-titled EP will take place on Wednesday, September 18 starting at 9 PM at Strange Matter. Also performing will be Pennsylvania noise-core maniacs Full Of Hell, Baltimore's teenage shred sensations Noisem, and local hardcore bands Unsacred and Caretaker. Admission is $8. For more info, click here.