American noise rock/death rock band Night Goat streams their sophomore album »Totem«, out today via Black Donut Records

American noise rock/death rock band Night Goat streams their sophomore album, »Totem«, which was just released this Friday, March 17th, 2023 via Black Donut Records.

Tracklist:
01. Sister Wolf
02. Ghost Sickness
03. Wendigo
04. Blood Circles
05. Child Of Owls
06. Rattlesnake
07. Ritual Of Antlers
08. Skin Walk With Me
09. Pale Face Lightning
10. Death Crow Dance

Courtesy of Earsplit PR:

New Noise Magazine is hosting an advance stream of »Totem«, the gnarled second LP from Canton, Ohio-based noise rock/death rock outfit, Night Goat, ahead of its official release this Friday through Black Donut Records.

Not for the weak of heart, Night Goat delivers abrasive, slashing, dark noise rock/death rock, with elements of goth, post-punk, and doom, their barrage of sounds owing to an almost supernatural regard of classic bands of the genre like Samhain, Unsane, 45 Grave, EyeHateGod, and even Sonic Youth. Their new album, »Totem«, is based on Native American lore, with ten new tracks that showcase the band at its deadliest yet.

»Totem« was engineered by Jeremy James at Wreckroom Recording Studio, mastered by Sterling “Spidermonkey” Hankins, and completed with artwork by Chris Bentley and Gordiart. »Totem« also features guest saxophone from Matt Corey on »Death Crow Dance«, additional percussion from Tommy Dalo on »Child Of Owls« and »Death Crow Dance«, and guitar by Clinton Jacob (Mr. Phylzzz) on »Wendigo«.

Photos by Molly Crowe

Night Goat’s Chris Bentley writes, “»Totem« was created in the ominous shadow of Covid. It was a time of mass uncertainty and strangeness. I started working on the guitar parts at home on an acoustic guitar. At the time, there wasn’t much else to do. Everyone was quarantined and half nuts. Julia and I were reading some extremely fascinating legends and stories of Native American supernatural spirits and evil creatures. Everything just sprang to life from those seeds. The music was first, and then Julia created an entire world of frothing menace around the music. We spent a lot of time messing around with all of it in the studio. It seemed like the world was in chaos and listening to the album now, I think you can actually hear that in the songs.”

Stream Night Goat’s »Totem« in its entirety early through New Noise Magazine RIGHT HERE.
Black Donut Records will release »Totem« on LP – 300 copies on Ghostly Grape transparent purple vinyl – and digital platforms on March 17th. Find pre-orders HERE and watch the »Wendigo« video HERE.

Night Goat is currently booking regional live performances in support of the record, kicking things off with two new Ohio shows in April, a newly booked show with Wailin’ Storms confirmed for May, and a more widespread US tour coming together for July. See confirmed gigs below and watch for additional announcements to follow shortly.

Night Goat Live:
3/17/2023 Buzzbin – Akron, OH w/ Pathos And Logos, Orion’s Sword
4/12/2023 Buzzbin – Akron, OH w/ Vazum
4/22/2023 Strum Around – Sandusky, OH w/ Ghost:Hello, Pythian
5/14/2023 Buzzbin – Akron, OH w/ Bellhead, Bonded By Darkness
5/22/2023 Buzzbin – Akron, OH w/ Wailin’ Storms, Hiram-Maxim

Night Goat’s debut album, »Milk«, was released in late 2019 and received rave reviews throughout the underground. In 2020 the band followed up with a split release with good friends Ghost:Hello on European label Interstellar Smoke Records. 2021 found the band added to a Samhain tribute album, »World Without End«, where they delivered an explosive cover of the Samhain classic »Moribund«. The tribute album was released by Black Donut Records, who invited Night Goat back in 2022 for the Melvins tribute LP, »A Future Of Bad Men«, where the band covered »Antitoxidote« which Decibel Magazine lauded as, “a sludgy mess that Buzzo would likely approve of.” These two collaborations led the label to sign the band for their second LP, »Totem«. Along the way, the band has shared the stage with Christian Death, The Obsessed, Cherubs, Whores, Low Dose, False Gods, Mr. Phylzzz, and many more.

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well