Photo by Vanessa Valadez
En route to release their third full length studio effort on September 5th via Earache Records, nu-aggressors Tallah announced Primeval: Obsession // Detachment last month.
A powerful presentation of the band's non-conformist execution and forward-thinking approach, Tallah again take on new creative terrain with a showcase that underscores their prowess as innovative players and songwriters.
Teaming with longtime producer and collaborator Josh Schroeder, the album includes several important talking points, the first of which includes the pivotal personnel shift of former drummer Max Portnoy moving to bass for album three. Additionally, the album was recorded live with no click track, no punch-in edits and no post polish. This also includes a vocal performance from frontman Justin Bonitz that was recorded in one, live continuous take.
It's important to reiterate that fact when taking into a account the kind of intensity that anchors a track like Tallah's latest, "A primeval detachment". A four and a half minute fever dream of frenetic instrumentation, combined with the feral, fiery delivery of Bontiz on vocals, the track makes the audacious assertion of being the band's most explosive entry to date.
Combined with a music video that came together guerilla-style, with fans congregating under a highway overpass, erecting scaffolding and going apeshit along with the band for an impromptu performance, the clip speaks to the unpredictability and volatility of Tallah.
The band collectively shared on the track, “This is not only the heaviest entry on the record, but potentially the heaviest in our entire discography. It’s relentless, top to bottom. Acting as the opening track of Act 2, the intro to the song really sets the tone. The pretty string quartet from Act 1 is falling apart, and the album takes a much darker turn. The final breakdown of this track is going to be a highlight at live shows, guaranteed.”
Portnoy also weighed in and offered his perspective in directing the music video and how that emphasized the band's relationship with their fans. "Shooting this video affirmed one thing for me… We have the best fans. So many people rolled up to this random underpass on short notice. We had our friend pull up with a truck full of scaffolding, and we weren’t sure if the shoot would be shut down after 15 minutes of setting up, but our fans jumped in to help set up and tear down everything as fast as possible. Legitimately could not have done this video without them.”
Along with the release of album preview in "A primeval detachment," Tallah has launched, The Primeval Game - a playable extension further exploring the concept of the album. The game was designed in collaboration with Enzo Interactive. The immersive, web-based game pits players in the alien world of Primeval: Obsession // Detachment and features monthly updates of new story elements, as well as song teasers other discovery elements and easter eggs.
The game can be played - HERE
Primeval: Obsession // Detachment, the third album from Tallah arrives September 5th via Earache Records. Pre-order the release - HERE
