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Many stereotypes are thrown around when discussing Seattle, Washington
and those who choose to dwell there. But one of the city’s best-kept secrets is that, despite the constant rain and latitude-induced “big dark” every winter, joy and chosen family are actually quite easy to find. The catch is that those things tend to thrive in the city’s most incongruous places – say, for example, the heavy-music community that continuously creates some of the ugliest, sludgiest, most soul-cleansingly cathartic hardcore, metal, and noise-rock the world has ever seen. That musical family, which legendarily birthed the much-mythologized grunge movement into the world, and more recently gave way to ultra-heavy bands like Botch, Murder City Devils, Great Falls, and Sandrider, has cultivated yet another feedback-laden offering: the four-piece hardcore/noise-rock outfit YELLFIRE, who will release their stunningly moving debut full-length, DEAR GODS, via The Ghost Is Clear Records on 11/15/24.

DEAR GODS manages to be simultaneously absurdly crushing and shockingly listenable all at once, likely to inspire multiple listens in a row – a tricky combination that many bands attempt, but few can master with this much precision, especially right out of the gate. This is, of course, a testament to the talent and vehement passion of singer/guitarist Jerome Sauer, guitarist Eric Christiansen, bassist Casey Nolan, and drummer Trent McIntyre.

YELLFIRE’s influences are also unabashed on its sleeve – not only in the clear stylistic nods to the post-hardcore section of the Hydrahead Records roster and their Emerald City contemporaries alike, but in the guest vocalists featured on the record as well: The album opener “Into Fire” features John Pettibone ( HEIRESS, HIMSA, UNDERTOW), “Escape” features Demian Johnston (GREAT FALLS, KISS IT GOODBYE, PLAYING ENEMY), “Cynics Revision” pulls former Yellfire bassist Nouela Johnston into the fold on additional vocals along with Matt Bayles (MINUS THE BEAR) on keys, and the final track “Red Sky” spotlights the roars of Ben Verellen (HELMS ALEE, HARKONEN). Sauer cites the angular vocal stylings of YOUNG WIDOWS as a primary inspiration for “Symmetry” as well.

When it comes to uncovering joy and catharsis where others might see isolation and noise, the members of Yellfire unanimously point to two things: 1) playing shows that inspire your friends to emerge and bathe in an onslaught of feedback together, and 2) making a record your teenage self would have played until you destroyed the CD, or your first car’s shitty speakers –or both. Considering DEAR GODS checks both of these boxes, there’s a good chance it might just move you, too.

Dear Gods was recorded by
Jason Sissoyev at The Unknown,
a converted church in Anacortes, Washington,
co-owned by Mt. Eerie's Phil Elverum. 
Additional tracking was done
with the help of Derek Moree (Pelican, The Sword)
at The Boiler Room in Seattle.
Mixed by Matt Bayles (Minus the Bear, Mastodon) and
mastered by Magnus Lindberg (Cult of Luna, Birds in Row)
Dear Gods: first single
"Into Fire" features the roar of John Pettibone;
"Escape" features Demian Johnston
(Great Falls, Kiss It Goodbye, Playing Enemy);
"Cynics Revision" features former Yellfire member Nouela Johnston
and Minus the Bear's Matt Bayles whose world-class mixing skills also helped bring the album to life; "Red Sky" features Ben Verellen
(Harkonen, Helms Alee).

Tracklist:
1) Into Fire (feat. John Pettibone)
2) Anti Inverted
3) Escape (feat. Demian Johnston)
4) Cynics Revision (feat. Nouela Johnston, Matt Bayles)
5) Fuji
6) Unrelated Incident
7) Symmetry
8) Wabi Sabi
9) One Into the Other
10) Carbon
11) Red Sky (feat. Ben Verellen)

Lineup:
Jerome Sauer - vocals, guitar
Eric Christianson - guitar
Casey Nolan - bass
Trent McIntyre - drums

Artwork by Frank Moth

Pressing Information

First Pressing /300
100 Bone / Black Smash
100 Translucent Blue with Heavy Black Splatter
100 Cloudy Clear with Orange and Silver Splatter