Wyrding - "Poltergeist" (Video Premiere)

February 22, 2016

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A few months ago I introduced many of you to the “funeral folk” stylings of mysterious Northern Wisconsin trio Wyrding. Somehow occupying the middle ground between obscure neofolk and expansive funeral doom sloth. Their debut demo Agony in Being was a melodic, melodramatic chasm of unique, burbling chamber sounds. Now a full-band, seeing former primary songwriter Troy Schafer eschewing his usual role as “multi-instrumentalist” and existing solely behind the singer’s pulpit.

With a new lineup comes change, and Wyrding has most certainly changed. Though undoubtedly funereal, their debut shows a dramatic shift in sound – lilting, theatrical, electric lullabyes. Contradictory to the “bloodied scarecrow mask” visage, demonstrated in their first music video you can see below, Wyrding’s hushed music flows over you like a warm blanket, Schafer’s warm baritone voice soaring above fellow bandmates Brian Steele, Kyle Roessler, Bret Hartl and Jerry McDougal’s smooth lugubre. Gone are the overt folk influences of Wyrding’s demo, who have emerged from the cocoon with a sound akin to Benedictine monks performing funeral rites with modern electric instrumentation. Unlike their more conservative funeral doom brethren, Wyrding seeks out the dramatic not only in minimal execution, but minimal sound. They are quiet, unassuming, but are able to portray immensity with their subtle movements.

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Wyrding’s self-titled full-length debut is slated for a March 1st release on highly regarded experimental label Small Doses, who will be handling both vinyl and CD editions. Oh, and for those who sat out on the remastered Agony in Being tape Small Doses released a few months ago (so many are still adamantly anti-cassette!), both tracks are featured at the end of the CD, though not the LP.

Have an exclusive listen to (and special viewing of) the haunting album opener “Poltergeist” below. Be sure to support your favorite artists and labels.

—Jon Rosenthal

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