New York heavy metal trio Sanhedrin presents their latest single, “Let’s Spill Some Blood.” The track comes in advance of the band’s Heat Lightning full-length, set for release Friday, March 14 on Metal Blade Records.
Notes vocalist/bassist Erica Stoltz. “The lyrics of ‘Let’s Spill Some Blood’ reflect how fortunate the human race is that most people seek justice as opposed to revenge. There are many dark forces in the corridors of power pretending to be forces for good, and this song calls them out for what they are and urges the listener to stand up and fight for what’s right.”
The main guitar riff of the verse is hypnotically repeated over and over again, “symbolizing history repeating itself,” according to guitarist/vocalist Jeremy Sosville. This works its way into an inspired singalong chorus, a signature of the Sanhedrin sound.
Sanhedrin has spent the last decade at the forefront of the American heavy metal scene blending traditional metal and hard rock sounds with a fresh modern energy and perspective. With 2022’s critically lauded Lights On full-length, the band had created their most complete work to date. With their follow-up, Heat Lightning, the band delivers a diverse collection of songs that wholly captures their wide array of influences with an elevated level of production.
“Sonically, there’s no comparison,” notes drummer Nathan Honor when asked how Heat Lightning compares to the band’s previous efforts. “Heat Lightning is the fullest representation of the power of this band. When you take three seasoned musicians with their favorite handpicked instruments, put them in front of two brilliant producer/engineers in a studio stacked with incredible equipment and no outside distractions, this is what you get.”
Unlike the previous three albums, which were all tracked and mixed by Colin Marston, for Heat Lightning Sanhedrin opted to work with a fresh set of ears in a new environment. In doing so, the band landed at the legendary Utopia Bearsville studio in Woodstock, New York. At the helm for recording and co-producing were Matt Brown (Life of Agony, A Pale Horse Named Death) and Jerry Farley (Sick Of It All, Madball).
The record commences with “Blind Wolf,” a hard-rocking, heavy metal stomper and the record’s lead single. Lyrically, the song is inspired by the band’s shared fascination with cults. According to Stoltz, “The blind wolf symbolizes losing your animal instincts as a result of adopting someone else’s belief system.”
The song is straightforward, pounding, and delivered with ill intent. “We knew as soon as the song was complete that it should open the record,” says Sosville. “It really sets the tone for the journey the listener is about to take with this album.”
“This album is a symbol of persistence during hard times, friendship through music, and the unwavering desire to do our best work together,” says Sosville. “After a decade of being a band, we are proud that we continue to push ourselves to new places sonically and musically. We hope the listener can hear our sincerity and our dedication when listening to this new collection of songs.”
Heat Lightning, which features the striking hand-painted cover art of band friend and fervent supporter Johan Prenger, will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
– 180g Black
– Violet Blue Marbled
– Ruby Red Marbled (Ltd. 500)
– White, Purple Splatter (Ltd. 200)
Pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
“Blind Wolf”
“Heat Lightning”
“Above The Law”
“The Fight Of Your Life”
“King Of Tides”
“Franklin County Line”
“Let’s Spill Some Blood”
“High Threshold For Pain”
“When The Will Becomes The Chain”
“Let’s Spill Some Blood” video:
“Franklin County Line”:
“Blind Wolf” video:
Sanhedrin will appear at this year’s edition of Hell’s Heroes Festival in Houston, Texas followed by a pair of one off shows in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania respectively. In May, the band will head to Europe for a co-headlining tour with Savage Master.
Lineup:
Erica Stoltz – vocals, bass
Jeremy Sosville – guitars, vocals
Nathan Honor – drums, percussion
(Photo – Stephen Afasano)
