Brooklyn-based psych-rock legends White Hills released a new record today, Beyond This Fiction, that further cements their status as harvesters of havoc in the underground rock scene.
White Hills has been a force of sonic destruction for nearly two decades, blending neo-psychedelia, art rock, and post-punk into a singular and instantly recognizable sound. Their cult status was immortalized in Jim Jarmusch’s vampire romance Only Lovers Left Alive, and they’ve toured relentlessly, amassing a vast catalog. With a punk ethos that only seems to intensify with time, White Hills has become increasingly daring and prolific, evolving with each new release.
Devoted to a vocation marked by extremes—doubt, struggle, and moments of sheer ecstasy—core members Dave W and Ego Sensation continue their torrid love affair with music, the latest fruit of which is Beyond This Fiction. Inspired by the ideas of Joseph Campbell, particularly his exploration of “riding between opposites,” the album is a call to all those who walk the fringes, who feel stifled by societal norms and see nonconformity as a doorway to divine mystery.
Recorded with Martin Bisi, the iconic NYC producer behind the no-wave sounds of Sonic Youth, Swans, and Lydia Lunch, Beyond This Fiction finds Dave W (guitar/vocals/synths) and Ego Sensation (drums/bass/vocals) refining their heavy guitar meditations into more vocal-centric compositions.
Beyond This Fiction consists of seven tracks and a tightly packaged run time of thirty-four minutes. It blasts off with “Throw It Up In The Air.” The layers of feedback and dissonance create a sense of unease, but the underlying groove keeps you hooked, daring you to find order within the chaos.
“Clear As Day” is another track with aggressive energy that feels like a punch to the gut. Dave W’s guitar is dynamic and masterful in this song, and his vocals come at us strong and direct. The searing guitar and pounding drums return in “Killing Crimson,” a more bone-crushing track than most stoner rock songs you’ll hear this year.
“Fiend” is heavier on the brooding synth and bass. The song is one of the record’s quieter and more reflective moments, featuring Dave W and Ego Sensation dueting on vocals and stripping away the rancorous noise to reveal White Hills’ deep well of creativity and emotion.
“Closer” is a brief interlude that showcases the group’s art-rock tendencies. The far-out synthesizer sounds make the short track border on ambient space rock, which makes for a nice change of pace. It’s followed by “The Awakening,” a strange track featuring Dave W’s distorted spoken-word vocals. I couldn’t quite make out everything he was saying, but the effect of the distortion and instrumentation made it a genuinely psychedelic experience.
The record closes with the title track – “Beyond This Fiction.” Ego Sensation contributes vocals again alongside Dave W, and while the song has a pounding beat and ominous guitar riff, it’s a bit smoother than some other songs on the record. It functions as a great closer because of the delicate interplay of the ethereal vocals and synth, guitar, and bass, creating an impressive wall of sound.
White Hills has crafted yet another record that reflects their home city: chaotic, vibrant, and constantly pushing the limits of what’s possible. Some of the songs on Beyond This Fiction will overwhelm you, and others may even soothe you, but they will all demand repeated listens. It’s the sound of a band willing to take risks and break free of anything that smacks of conformity.
Check out Beyond This Fiction by White Hills on Bandcamp here.
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