New York City’s Dead Heavens, the psych-rock project of guitarist and frontman Walter Schreifels (Vanishing Life, Gorilla Biscuits, Rival Schools, Quicksand, and more), Paul Kostabi (Youth Gone Mad, White Zombie, Psychotica), Drew Thomas (Youth of Today, Bold, Into Another), and Nathan Aguilar (Cults), have released a new song from their forthcoming album Whatever Witch You Are, out June 16 on Dine Alone Records.
The early sparks of the Dead Heavens’ sound began on Schreifels solo record, with drummer Drew Thomas and bassist Nathan Aguilar as the backing band. They were obsessing over Cream’s first album Fresh Cream and MBV, My Bloody Valentine’s both miasmic yet blissful follow up to Loveless. Aguilar also introduced them to the psych beauty of White Fence on that tour, which resonated with Schreifels, who was in the mood for heavier music, guitar solos, and a big rock feeling after a recent Quicksand tour.
Upon returning to NYC, Aguilar reacquainted Thomas and Schreifels with musician, painter, engineer Paul Kostabi, previously of White Zombie and Psychotica.
“I knew Paul from his days with White Zombie, but hadn’t seen him in years and didn’t know he was recording,” Schreifels said. “Turns out he was in possession of the same 16-track reel-to-reel I had recorded Gorilla Biscuits’ Start Today on back in ’89, so it was a perfect fit.”
They began recording at Kostabi’s home studio in Piermont, New York with his massive collection of ‘70s recording reels from The James Gang, Sabbath, and Hendrix, spinning in between takes.
“Those recordings really inspired our sound,” Schreifels said of Kostabi’s analog archive. “We began to see ourselves in the context of the Vietnam War.”
Eventually Kostabi joined Dead Heavens, which had morphed mid-recording from a project into an actual band, changing the sound dramatically. Heavier and dual guitar leads, more sonic possibilities. Whether they’re connecting the sounds of the psychedelic ‘70s or channeling the now, Dead Heavens are sound tracking their exploration and as drummer Drew Thomas mentions, “What the world needs now is for more people to take psychedelic drugs.” Dead Heavens is launched into the world to succeed where the hippies failed.
Whatever Witch You Are Track Listing:
1) Rainbow Of The Ohm Chart
2) Basic Cable
3) Away From The Speed
4) Bad Luck Child
5) The Moon Will Listen (But Not The Sun)
6) Adderall Highway
7) Gold Tooth
8) Silver Sea
9) Experience