Whitechapel's Ben Savage On The Loaded Radio Podcast
TL;DR
In this episode of The Loaded Radio Podcast, Whitechapel guitarist Ben Savage discusses the band's highly anticipated new album, Hymns In Dissonance, set for release on March 7 via Metal Blade Records. He dives into the writing process, the band's heaviest breakdowns yet, his biggest influences, and what fans can expect from their upcoming North American tour. Listen to the full interview below!
Whitechapel's Hymns In Dissonance: Their Most Brutal Album Yet?
For over a decade, Whitechapel has been at the forefront of modern deathcore, delivering devastating riffs, punishing breakdowns, and unrelenting aggression. Now, with their ninth studio album, Hymns In Dissonance, the Knoxville-based metal titans are taking their sound to darker and heavier depths than ever before.
According to guitarist Alex Wade, the album is designed to be "shockingly menacing and brutal." With guttural lows, eerie atmospheres, and crushing riffage, Hymns In Dissonance is poised to be one of the heaviest releases of 2024.
In this week's episode of The Loaded Radio Podcast, we sit down with Ben Savage to break down the album's concept, the band's unique approach to songwriting, and what went into crafting this monstrous new record.
The Concept Behind Hymns In Dissonance
Unlike their previous album, Kin (2021), which explored deeply personal themes, Hymns In Dissonance is a concept album centered around a cult leader gathering followers to commit heinous acts in worship of their dark lord.
Frontman Phil Bozeman describes the album's title as a direct contradiction:
"Hymns are melodious and harmonious. Dissonance is the opposite. Dissonance represents evil. These tracks serve as hymns for the cult, each one symbolizing a deadly sin."
The record follows a 10-track journey that builds upon Whitechapel's legacy while introducing some of their lowest tunings and most intricate guitar work yet.
Whitechapel's Heaviest Riffs Yet?
One of the most exciting elements of Hymns In Dissonance is its brutal guitar work. In the interview, Ben Savage breaks down how Whitechapel pushed their sound further than ever before.
One key highlight is the album's title track, which drops to Drop F tuning in its final breakdown—the lowest tuning Whitechapel has ever used. According to Wade, the shift in tuning helps create an "overwhelmingly crushing" finale that fans will undoubtedly feel in their bones.
The album's lead single, "A Visceral Retch," was the first taste of this new sound, immediately receiving high praise from fans for its sheer intensity.
The Making of Hymns In Dissonance
Unlike previous albums, the writing and recording process for Hymns In Dissonance was entirely in-house, with Zach Householder handling production duties. Having worked closely with producer Mark Lewis over the years, Householder was able to bring his deep understanding of Whitechapel's sound into the production process, ensuring maximum impact with every track.
Savage also discusses how the band approached writing in a structured, weekday-only schedule, which allowed them to stay focused while avoiding burnout.
Whitechapel's Hymns In Dissonance North American Tour
With the album set to drop on March 7, Whitechapel is gearing up for a massive North American tour in support of Hymns In Dissonance. The month-long trek kicks off on March 18 in Raleigh, NC, and wraps up on April 19 in Atlanta, GA.
They'll be joined by an absolutely stacked lineup, featuring:
- Brand of Sacrifice
- 200 Stab Wounds
- Alluvial
With this kind of brutal tour package, fans can expect a nonstop assault of heavy music every single night. Tickets are available now, and if Whitechapel's past performances are anything to go by, this is not a show you'll want to miss.
Listen to the Full Interview with Ben Savage
We cover all of this and more in this week's Loaded Radio Podcast, where Ben Savage opens up about his biggest musical influences, his favorite records of all time, and what makes Hymns In Dissonance such a special album for Whitechapel.
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