Wage War Brings Back Gator-Core With "Song of the Swamp" + New EP and Tour
Wage War has announced a much-needed return to the swamp in their upcoming EP “It Calls Me By Name”. The metalcore outfit, started in Ocala, Florida has held the scene in its jaws for 16 years and shows no signs of letting go. With their last release, Stigma, reaching over 2 million plays on Spotify there is no doubt who rules these waters. Built around the array of terrifying creatures back at home, they have channeled that ferocity into a wicked new track “Song of the Swamp”
Pre-Save “It Calls Me By Name” Here
“Song of the Swamp” is a love letter to the swamps. The inclusion of the clicking, chirping, croaking soundscapes transport you to that humid darkness. Even the vocals offer a guttural tone that chills your bones. The song is a threat. Sharp and unyielding with absolutely no break for clean vocals. With the spoken segment highlighting that the Alligator will consume anything it can overpower is perfectly matched by the emblematic Wage War vehemence. The message remains that Wage War is at the top of the food chain. Another classic Wage War feature is back as the sound races between scratching breaks and serpentine chords, weighted by the heavy bass vibrating beneath. The drums hit with a deep echoing boom even in the most rapid fire segments. To cap things with a call out to the EP title shows that Wage War has put their entire identity into the upcoming release.
Listen To “Song of the Swamp” Here
The music video continues this ode to the swamps with the entire music video taking place in one. The band's performance is mixed with shots of gators doing everything from lurking below the surface to successfully catching a meal (if you catch my meaning. An almost found-footage style hue covers everything giving it an eerie feel. A wild choice considering how terrifying the idea of playing on a raft surrounded by alligators already is.
Watch the music video for “Song of the Swamp” below:
Reception to this new era is being met with plenty of praise from long-time fans. Especially those who love their more teeth-gnashing tracks
"[It's] The tone setter," the band declares. "'SONG OF THE SWAMP' is rooted in where we're from. Driven by Florida and the raw aggression of nature, it's a heavy track built on tension and hostility.”
That statement is exactly it. It's that beloved aggressive, all gas no breaks, gator-core brutality. It's mosh music that signifies you'll be catching a fist in the pit reminiscent of “Death Roll”
With new music, there's also a tour coming. Absolutely no time is wasted in bringing the swamp to a stage near you. The "It Calls Me By Name Tour," featuring support from Nevertel and Orthodox kicks off on April 28 in Phoenix and runs through May 31 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Personally, I will happily be risking it all in a wall of death in New York (don't save me, that's exactly where I want to be).