HELSOTT – America’s leading pagan metal band – has unveiled “Babylon: Scarlett’s Saloon,” the music video for the latest single from their brand-new concept album, “Will and The Witch,” released today. Available on CD, a limited-edition gold double vinyl, and digital editions are now available at retail or online now or check http://smarturl.com/helsott. A video, shot on location at Whitehorse Ranch in Landers, CA, was premiered today by Metal Injection – https://metalinjection.net/video/helsott-drinks-heavily-in-new-single-babylon-scarletts-saloon. HELSOTT has also announced a flurry of live performances along the West Coast coming up in June 2022, alongside symphonic black metal mystics Malphas from Philadelphia. Full tour dates are below.
Says vocalist Eric Dow, “The story of the album can get pretty grim at times so it’s important to have some fun songs. Our fans love our ‘drinking songs’ so we made the ultimate Helsott drinking song!”
HELSOTT‘s new album, “Will and The Witch,” is a concept record that tells a fictional story about how Billy The Kid became the fastest gunfighter in the wild west. The first taste of music from the new album was unleashed with a visualizer video for the title track, which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/Gok7aEiO1Ys. The group followed this up with the professional music video for “I’ll Make Ya Famous,” which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/Bvj_5Nhs8M0. The group then released a visualizer video for the song, “Independence Night,” which featured guest vocals from Tim “Ripper” Owens (formerly of Judas Priest, Iced Earth, and Yngwie Malmsteen) and can be viewed at https://youtu.be/5Iq3yGT6Zrg.
HELSOTT returns to its musical roots on “Will and The Witch” with heavier thrash overtones and less orchestral work than their prior record, while catching listeners off-guard with new influences befitting of the album’s theme. thrash metal, power metal, and death metal all converge with acoustic campfire segments, Southern banjo and fiddle, and Native American-inspired hand drums and flutes. The end result is a record that is musically ambitious while remaining melodic, heavy, and true to the underlying sound of HELSOTT.
The band’s latest effort – mixed and mastered by J-F Dagenais (Kataklysm, Misery Index, Ex Deo) and featuring artwork by Felipe Machado Franco (Blind Guardian, Rhapsody, Gamma Ray) – is augmented by a who’s who of heavy hitters. In addition to Owens, HELSOTT is joined on “Will and The Witch” by percussionist Vladimir Reshetnikov (Arkona, Imperial Age), guitarist/bassist Freddie Vidales (Ashes of Ares, Iced Earth), violinist Lethien (Elvenking), guitarist Kevin Storm (Heidevolk, Autumn, Fleetburner), guitarist Bjorn Friedrichsen (Withered Moon, Sanguineus) and Whistlin’ Rick Storey.
Since their formation, the California-based HELSOTT – whose name means “fatal illness” in Old Norse – has paid homage to pagan cultures, mythology, and history while keeping true to their American influences. The group’s unique mix of folk metal, death metal, symphonic metal, thrash, classical, and rock was first unveiled to the world with the 2012 release of their debut EP “Fólkvangr.” The band soon caught the attention of audiences on a larger scale during the 2013 Paganfest North American tour, where they performed with Ensiferum, Tyr, and Trollfest. That tour set the stage for the 2014 release of “Woven,” which was supported by tours alongside Arkona and Heidevolk.
In the years since the original release of “Woven,” HELSOTT signed with M-Theory Audio, released another EP (2017’s “The Healer”) and a second full-length (2018’s “Slaves and Gods”), and logged many touring miles worldwide with artists including Korpiklaani, Arkona, I Am Morbid, Necrophagia, Tengger Cavalry, Ashes of Ares, Felix Martin, Skyforger and Finsterforst. In addition, the band performed at major European festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Cernunnos Pagan Fest. “Woven” was also remixed, remastered, and re-released by M-Theory Audio in November 2020 in celebration of the group’s 10th anniversary.
This year will not just see the release of HELSOTT‘s new album, “Will and The Witch,” but will also see the band’s return to the live stage. American fans along the West Coast will get an opportunity in June 2022 to experience the band’s power live with performances alongside Philadelphia’s Malphas. HELSOTT has also been confirmed to play England’s HRH Vikings 2022, with more to come throughout 2022.
Upcoming HELSOTT Live Performances:
06/16 – Viper Room – Hollywood, CA*
06/17 – The Black Rat – Concord, CA*
06/18 – Den of Sin – Sacramento, CA*
06/19 – Dante’s – Portland, OR*
06/20 – The Fun House – Seattle, WA*
06/22 – The Shredder – Boise, ID*
06/23 – Aces High Saloon – Salt Lake City, UT*
06/24 – Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA*
06/25 – Starlight Lounge – Glendale, AZ*
07/09 Ramona Mainstage – Ramona, CA*
12/03-12/04 HRH Vikings – Sheffield, England
* w/ Malphas
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Track Listing:
1. I’ll Make Ya Famous (3:41)
2. Southern Shine (3:30)
3. Will And The Witch (4:19)
4. Independence Night (5:38) ft. guest vocals Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens
5. Skin Out (9:45)
6. Babylon: Scarlett’s Saloon (4:41)
7. Everything Hurts (3:35)
8. Spit Bucket Brawl (3:41)
9. Navajo Crow (6:08)
10. Welded As One (7:09)
11. Reap The Whirlwind (3:54)
12. Regulators (5:50)
Album Length: 1:01:55
HELSOTT is:
Eric Dow – Vocals
Mark Dow – Guitar
Peter Truax – Guitar
Cooper Dustman – Drums
For more information:
www.facebook.com/helsott
www.instagram.com/helsott
www.twitter.com/helsott
www.helsott.com
www.m-theoryaudio.com