Shifting from TikTok sensation to medieval metal force, Netherwilds is the brainchild of Tokyo Police Club’s David Monks. Emerging as Worm Chewer, Monks' alter ego, complete with tattered garb and gnarled teeth, opened the door to the Middle Ages with a viral series that took flight.
For Monks, the outlet afforded an opportunity to indulge a world of fantasy and nerd culture that proved formative for the multi-hyphenate from an early age. Cultivating the series filmed along the Irish countryside, Monks' protagonist in "Worm Chewer" functions as the audience's fixer to a world of peasants, kings, executioners, mystics, and rebels.
Evolving into a complete musical project, Netherwilds fuses immersive narrative with Monk's metallic pedigree, resulting in a complete presentation that is as entertaining as it is timely. Utilizing absurdist humor and medieval cosplay, the context of the project points to greater themes of classism, subjugation and the social divide of the time that strangely feels relevant now.
Sourcing elements of punk, metal and hardcore with medieval instrumentation, the project's debut single "Return the Goat" is a wildly ambitious, equally imaginative introduction that bridges fantasy and heavy music seamlessly.
"It was an admittedly experimental process," says Monks, "but I've always believed experimentation creates opportunities for success. And there was something so satisfying about taking all of my knowledge and putting it into a metal box."
Previewing the pending full length due this fall via King Volume Records, Monks' vision with Netherwilds is actualized on the debut track with a first outing that christens Worm Chewer as the most unlikely, yet never more needed hero.
Our medieval narrator shared of the track.
"Though mine goat hath vanished, I hath gained a fellowship of minstrels. Together we roam the kingdom performing our peasant metal in search of the goat, glory, and slightly improved living conditions.
The moving visions within this tapestry mark the start of our legend together and thou art hereby invited to become a part of it. Verily, the next time your lord is distracted by counting his coins, take up thine orb and ponder upon our quest. There are dark and strange times ahead and we shall require every peasant, serf and village fool we can muster.”
Check the music video premiere for "Return the Goat" from Netherwilds now available on King Volume Records. Get the single - HERE
