Unearthly Trance is a

sludge metal Sludge metal (also known as sludge or sludge doom) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that originated through combining elements of doom metal and hardcore punk. It is typically harsh and abrasive, often featuring shouted vocals, heavi ...

doom metal Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...

trio from

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...

composed of guitarist-vocalist Ryan Lipynsky, bassist Jay Newman, and drummer Darren Verni. They were formed in 2000 and have released material on leading labels of the genre like

Southern Lord Southern Lord is an American heavy metal record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson. It specialized in experimental metal: particularly doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal. The label later expanded its line-up to include arti ...

Rise Above Records Rise Above Records is a London-based independent record label owned by Lee Dorrian (of the band Cathedral and formerly of Napalm Death). Founding Lee Dorrian started Rise Above Records in 1988 without the intention of the label being an ongoi ...

and

Relapse Records Relapse Records is an American independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990. The label features many grindcore, death metal, metalcore and sludge metal artists. History The label was ...

to which they are still signed today. They are also considered by critics one of the leading acts in the doom metal scene and shared tours with notable bands such as

Sunn O))) Sunn O))) (pronounced "sun") is an American experimental metal band formed in 1998 in Seattle, Washington. The band is known for their distinctive visual style and slow, heavy sound, which blends diverse genres including doom metal, drone, bla ...

Pelican Pelicans (genus ''Pelecanus'') are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before s ...

Electric Wizard Electric Wizard are an English doom metal band from Dorset. The band formed in 1993 and have recorded nine studio albums, two of which have been considered genre landmarks: ''Come My Fanatics…'' (1997) and ''Dopethrone'' (2000). Electric Wiz ...

The Melvins ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

and

Morbid Angel Morbid Angel is an American death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling ...

. Their fifth album, ''V'', was released by

on September 27, 2011, and was produced by Sanford Parker, leader of fellow Relapse label mates and

post-metal Post-metal is a music genre rooted in heavy metal but exploring approaches beyond metal conventions. It emerged in the 1990s with bands such as Neurosis and Godflesh, who transformed metal texture through experimental composition. In a way simil ...

experimentalists

Minsk Minsk ( be, Мінск ; russian: Минск) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach and the now subterranean Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the admi ...

. Ryan Lipynsky also fronts the black metal act

The Howling Wind ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

and experimental hardcore unit

Pollution Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the ...

. All three members played in Serpentine Path with Tim Bagshaw, formerly of Electric Wizard and Ramesses. Unearthly Trance broke up on July 6, 2012. The band announced their reunion in spring 2015. They headed back to the studio and released Stalking The Ghost in 2017, followed by a EU tour with Suma.

Musical style

Although categorised as

, Unearthly Trance's music draws inspiration from other forms of extreme music, such as

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...

death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...

crust punk Crust punk (also known as crust or stenchcore) is a form of music influenced by English punk rock and extreme metal. The style, which evolved in the early 1980s in England, often has songs with dark and pessimistic lyrics that linger on politic ...

and

drone music Drone music, drone-based music, or simply drone, is a minimalist genre that emphasizes the use of sustained sounds, notes, or tone clusters – called drones. It is typically characterized by lengthy audio programs with relatively slight harmon ...

. Their songs are usually quite long, past the five-minute mark and build slowly and oppressively with pounding drums and slow, loud and distorted guitars and bass buried under thick layers of feedback. The vocals are usually very harsh under the form of distorted screams, and the lyrics usually deal with themes of the occult. Unearthly Trance also ventures into more experimental sounds from time to time like

ambient Ambient or Ambiance or Ambience may refer to: Music and sound * Ambience (sound recording), also known as atmospheres or backgrounds * Ambient music, a genre of music that puts an emphasis on tone and atmosphere * ''Ambient'' (album), by Moby * ...

and

noise music Noise music is a genre of music that is characterised by the expressive use of noise within a musical context. This type of music tends to challenge the distinction that is made in conventional musical practices between musical and non-musical ...

, giving their music a more introspective, dark and progressive vibe.

Discography

;Studio albums * ''Season of Seance, Science of Silence'' (2003) * ''In the Red'' (2004) * ''The Trident'' (2006) * ''Electrocution'' (2008) * ''V'' (2010) * ''Stalking the Ghost'' (2017) ;Extended plays * ''Lord Humanless Awakens/Summoning the Beast'' 7-inch ( Southern Lord 2001) * ''V.V.V.V./Frost Walk with Me'' 7-inch (Parasitic Rec 2003) * ''The Axis Is Shifting'' 10-inch (Banana Hammock 2007) * ''Eleven Are the Voices'' 10-inch (Land O'Smiles 2007) * ''Psychological Operations'' (split 10-inch with Suma) (Speakerphone Recordings, Grimmgrinner records 2008) * ''Night Of The Vampire'' b/w ''Stand For The Fire Demon'' (split 7-inch with Minsk on Parasitic Rec) (2009) * ''Sabbath Of Spirals'' b/w ''The Glorious Dead'' (split 10-inch with Ramesses on Future Noise Rec) (2009) * ''Obscene Truth'' & ''Headless/Heartless'' b/w ''Sorceries of Plague'' (split 7-inch with Aldebaran on Parasitic Rec) (2009) * ''Eternal Frost'' b/w ''Servants Of The Warsmen'' (split 7-inch with Volition) (Wolfsbane Records 2009) * ''Unearthly Trance/The Endless Blockade'' (split 12-inch with The Endless Blockade) (Chrome Peeler Records 2010) * ''Unearthly Trance + Wooden Wand'' (split /cover from Charles Manson Songbook on Chrome Peeler Records) (2010) * ''Unearthly trance & Suma collaboration'' 12-inch (2010 Throne Rec) * ''Unearthly Trance + Fleshpress Split'' (Throne Rec) (2011)

References

{{Authority control American sludge metal musical groups American doom metal musical groups Heavy metal musical groups from New York (state) Musical groups established in 2000 American musical trios