AWHILE BACK, I INADVERTENTLY traveled the River Styx with Generation Decline one evening. Sounds serious. But they’re actually some pretty goofy dudes…
I was wandering around with no place to go, so I thought I’d stop into the Chuck. They were not open. The lights were off. But I heard music coming from inside and saw vans parked outside of the front door. So I texted the dudes… The band was inside in the middle of practice. They invited me in for the last song of the night. The venue was completely empty. Aside from any ghosts. And the band, set up in the middle of the dance floor beneath the stage where the mosh pit usually is. They ripped into a new song they were working on at the time, and, in an instant, it felt like something ripped through the universe. Everything went black. I was sucked into a maelstrom of guitar riffs, blast beats and guttural screams and something was lifted out of me.
When the song finished, I snapped back into reality. There is something utterly primal about this band. It was exactly what I needed in that moment.
It was a random Wednesday. I got to talk with the band about the new album they were getting ready to send off to be pressed on vinyl. They recorded it with Tony Reed at APL Studios in Port Orchard. It’s called ‘Stygian.’ It’s out now, streaming, and they’ve got vinyl. The album hit the internet on election day, and they’ve been leaking vinyl through a few recent out of town shows. You can get a copy at the Winter Harsh Fest Dec. 14 at the Charleston.
‘Stygian… What’s that mean?’ I ask the band.
“It’s darkness, black, eeeeevil,” Trevor, the bass player, responds succinctly.
“It’s based off the River Styx,” Andy, guitar, adds. “A mythological evil…”
‘So, like, the darkest of dark?’ I ask.
“Literally, very dark,” Trevor says. “Very. Very. Dark.”
“I love how the description is ‘really, really, really dark, you guys,’” Ian, drummer, laughs in a South Park-like pantomime. “Like, ‘Guess how dark it is, guys…’ ‘How dark is it?’ ‘Really… really dark.'”
Everybody laughs.
“I like the definition that talks about imagining the darkest blackness you can possibly imagine and it’s darker than that” Angel, vocals, adds. “It’s the complete abyss. The darkest thing you can think of, but think harder…”
Andy puts on the first track off the new album over the house speakers.
It’s called ‘Cursed Soil.’
‘What’s the meaning behind that?’ I ask.
“Dirt,” Trevor says.
“Some really, really dark dirt, man,” Ian growls.
“Really dark soil, bro,” Andy laughs.
“Think of the darkest soil you can think of,” Ian keeps the joke rolling.
“…It’s darker than that.”
Punchline.
“Think of the longest, most boring band interview you can think of…” Trevor takes the joke in a different direction. But, seriously, all darker-than-dark jokes aside, you should pick up this album, listen to all 17 minutes in absolute darkness and let some shit go. // NICK SLEDGE
CHECK OUT GENERATION DECLINE’S new album ‘Stygian’ up now at generationdecline.bandcamp.com. And look for it on vinyl at Winter Harshfest w/ ten hardcore/grind/crust bands including Generation Decline and the exclusive PNW appearance for Winnepeg grindcore band Archagathus, 6 p.m., Dec. 14, all ages, $25 advance/$35 at the door at the Charleston. Tickets at winterharshfest24.eventbrite.com
