Exclusive Release: American Doomsayers Drug Honkey’s Ghostly ‘The Oblivion of an Opiate Nod’

Chicago doom/death metallers Drug Honkey. Photo: Courtesy of Transcending Obscurity

Five years after their agitating album Ghost in the Fire, Chicago doom/death metal band Drug Honkey are back with a tormenting, atmospheric new record. The seven-track Cloak of Skies ”“ releasing on Indian metal label Transcending Obscurity on May 5th ”“ is a testament to how the band continues to make some of the most harrowing music you’ve heard.

Although the same running time as Ghost in the Fire, Drug Honkey have longer songs on their latest record, which includes a remix of the opening track “Pool of Failure” by British guitarist-vocalist Justin K Broadrick, part of experimental band Jesu and industrial metal veterans Godflesh. Drug Honkey vocalist Paul Gillis says about working with Broadrick, “He is one of our biggest influences, so the whole process was a great one. He treats you like one of the guys. No rockstar bullshit. Down to earth and a master at what he does.”

The longest track on Cloak of Skies is “The Oblivion of an Opiate Nod,” Gillis laying down a putrid growl throughout, as the sludgy synth and guitars get to a trampling intensity. Gillis however notes that it wasn’t intentional to build up a 10-minute song. He adds, “But we don’t shy away from longer songs at times as they can really help to fully develop an idea. Once the ideas and riffs were all laid down, it just ended up being the longest track. To cut it down didn’t seem like an option in this case.”

Listen to “The Oblivion of an Opiate Nod” here. Pre-order Cloak of Skies here.