I think we can all agree that the concept of a supergroup has been played to death, especially by music journalists who threw the buzzword at anything even remotely resembling an assembly of moderately known musicians. There should ideally be a word that doesn’t immediately gnaw away at our expectations by implying a grandeur that’s neither promised nor guaranteed. Be that as it may, today’s premiere is all about people from established bands coming together to make some damn fine music.
Stillbloom is the brainchild of one Mitch Anthony, who acts as the main songwriter and guitarist of the project. Early traces can be found all the way back in 2018, when Anthony put together demos and other assorted drafts of what would later become a full-fledged multi-person endeavor. Having been faced with the physical and mental turmoil of cancer twice since its de facto inception, Anthony decided to devote his time to Stillbloom, and that’s when he began putting together its current line-up.
Josh Johnson, drummer of Seven Hours After Violet and Winds of Plague, was the first to join; him and Anthony had been in contact about a potential collaboration for a long time. Johnson then recruited bassist Johnny Ortega (ex-Volumes), while Anthony brought Black Sheep Wall guitarist Andrew Hulle into the fold. This is the four-man set-up the band is currently operating with; Kaemon Maggard is listed as an auxiliary writer, bringing nylon guitar parts and solos to the table.
Described by producer Nick Morzov (Animals As Leaders, Chon, Blink-182) as ‘smart music by dumb people‘, their core aesthetic of progressive metalcore is held together by a decorative ribbon of outside influences; by their own admission, they draw from everything between bossa nova and slam. This results in a sound that definitely would’ve made quite a splash in the djent heyday, but holds its own surprisingly well in the present day as well.
We’re delighted to be entrusted with the premiere of their second single “Nanu Nanu” today, which also comes with a music video – a real cherry on the sundae situation. Before it all melts into a mushy blur, how about we dig in?
Muscular djent riffs, braindead breakdown chugs, string sections, classical guitar – “Nanu Nanu” makes it abundantly clear that Stillbloom are a band that’s not afraid to pull from the high- and the low-brow to concoct their own stimulating blend. The way these sounds mingle is handled quite tastefully, and the way the riffing occasionally gives way to intricate shred parts made me feel quite nostalgic for the time progressive metal was at the forefront of modern heavy music. It’s a familiar sound handled in an alternative fashion, which I appreciate.
The accompanying music video, which was directed, filmed, and edited by Zack Perez, is essentially a performance video in an unusual setting. Choosing an office as the backdrop to their playthrough is an interesting placement to say the least, but it does add some visual intrigue to the music. The shots, cuts, and overall composition are handled very tastefully, and that’s all one could ask from this type of music video.
“Nanu Nanu” comes off the band’s upcoming self-titled début EP, whose roll-out will be handled by Silent Pendulum Records. Fans of instrumental prog metal à la Polyphia, Chon, and Animals As Leaders should draw a fat red circle around September 11 on their calendars, as that’s the release date for Stillbloom (the record). You can follow Stillbloom (the band) in Instagram and Youtube, while anticipating the Bandcamp drop of their music so you can grab your very own digital copy.
Band pictures courtesy of Wesley Barker Photography
