The new video for “The Top,” from Colorado Springs post-metal sludge lords Clarion Void is sorta like Groundhog Day with a lot of glowing blue objects. Woman wakes up, drinks water, makes coffee, brushes teeth, etc. Oh yeah, and at one point that routine involves putting on what looks to be a glowing blue crocheted mask of some description. The surreal video was expertly directed by Kylin Massey. It’s weird, yes, but the vibe suits the trudging, grinding post-metal heaviness of “The Top,” a tune whose opening riff feels like Killing Joke’s “Eighties” played at half speed, and drop-tuned a few steps. The quartet—Greg Mullenax (guitar/vocals), Bryan Webb (bass), Evan Courtland (guitar), James Ivy (drums)—slow-builds the gloom for minutes before vocals appear and the intensity ramps up with tremelo picking and more aural harshness.
“The Top” is the first single from Clarion Void’s second album, Failure in Repetition, which was produced by Clarion Void, Grammy-nominated producer Greg Wilkinson (High on Fire, Pallbearer) and Ben Kaplan. It was recorded and mixed by Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios in Oakland, CA, and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege. It’s set for release on vinyl and digitally via Lost Future Records on March 1. You can purchase “The Top” and/or preorder the album here.
This is what singer/guitarist Greg Mullenax had to say about the new track:
“‘The Top’ was written shortly after finishing our last album. It’s a different take on how we do things, while trying to keep a lot of our core intact.”