Canadian experimental sludge trio Ivy Gardens releases new single and music video »Eye Witness«
Niagara Falls, Canada based experimental sludge trio Ivy Gardens premiere new single and music video »Eye Witness« taken from their second album, »Death Of Don Valley«, set to release on August 29th, 2025 via Paper Cut Recordings.
Tracklist:
01. Burn For Murder
02. Eye Witness
03. Burden
04. Guiding Hand
05. Frozen Limbs
06. Gearth
07. Astray
08. Bliss
09. Golden
Courtesy of Asher Media Relations:
Sludge meets storytelling with Ivy Gardens’ new video »Eye Witness« from upcoming »Death Of Don Valley« out Aug 2025!
Niagara Falls, Canada’s Ivy Gardens has erupted from the underground with their latest single and music video, »Eye Witness«, a blistering preview of their upcoming sophomore album »Death Of Don Valley«, set to drop on August 29th, 2025, via Paper Cut Recordings. Clocking in at just under three minutes, the track is an intricate whirlwind of violence, precision, and catharsis, embodying the album’s dark themes and Ivy Gardens’ signature “dog-ass music”, a term the band uses lovingly to define their sludge-soaked, high-decibel aesthetic.
Formed in the unlikely crucible of a Princess Auto parking lot, Ivy Gardens began with a simple desire to shred through Rush instrumentals and explore the outer reaches of heavy music. Now, following their acclaimed first full-length »Goon« released in 2024, the band takes a daring leap into more dour, experimental terrain. »Death Of Don Valley« presents a concept album steeped in decay, lyrically and sonically portraying the slow death of natural spaces like Toronto’s Don River, drowned by industry and time.
Photo credit: Luka Kartveli
»Eye Witness« dives into a fictional narrative split between two perspectives: one enacting violence, the other enduring it. While it’s one of the band’s most intricate compositions, it’s delivered with raw immediacy and speed, capturing the album’s central tension, unpredictability, intensity, and transcendence.
“Eye Witness is one of the most intricate and technical tracks on the album, but also blasted through as fast as possible. Coming in at a cool 2:50, its lyrics detail a double-homicide,” adds the band.
Watch the video for »Eye Witness« via its premiere on Doomed and Stoned HERE.
In additional news, fans can expect a live experience unlike any other as Ivy Gardens is hitting the road for a cross-Canada tour in kicking off on August 29th in St. Catharines, ON, and will wrap up in Victoria, BC on October 25th (dates listed below).
Ivy Gardens’ influences are vast, ranging from progressive icons like Rush, Yes, and King Crimson to sludge pioneers like EyeHateGod and Iron Monkey. Their sound blends elements of stoner metal, sludge, math rock, and progressive rock, creating an unpredictable listening experience that takes the listener through a series of emotional and sonic landscapes.
»Death Of Don Valley« (out August 29th) is available for pre-order at ivygardens.bandcamp.com
Previous single »Burden«: Music Video | Spotify
Ivy Gardens – Live or Die Tour:
Aug 29 – St. Catharines, ON – Warehouse Concert Hall
Aug 30 – Toronto, ON – Monarch Tavern
Sep 5 – Kitchener, ON – The Golden Apple
Sep 11 – London, ON – TBA
Sep 12 – Windsor, ON – Phog Lounge
Sep 13 – Sarnia, ON – AJs Bar
Sep 18 – Halifax, NS – Radstorm
Sep 19 – Sydney, NS – Daniels Ale House
Sep 20 – Charlottetown, PEI – Babas Lounge
Sep 21 – Moncton, NB – TBA
Sep 25 – Woodstock, NB – Montieth Manor
Sep 26 – Montreal, QC – Turbo Haus
Sep 27 – Quebec City, QC – Sonum
Oct 9 – Barrie, ON – CW Coops
Oct 10 – Sudbury, ON – Townhouse Tavern
Oct 11 – Thunder Bay, ON – Black Pirate
Oct 12 – Winnipeg, MB – Bulldog Event Center
Oct 16 – Regina, SK – The Cure Kitchen and Bar
Oct 17 – Saskatoon, SK – The Black Cat
Oct 18 – Calgary, AB – Palomino
Oct 19 – Edmonton, AB – Blak Bar
Oct 23 – Kelowna, BC – Dunnenzies
Oct 24 – Vancouver, BC – Black Alley
Oct 25 – Victoria, BC – Fernwood Community Center
Album credits:
All songs written and performed by Ivy Gardens
Produced by Ivy Gardens
Recorded and mixed by Frank Ditillio
Mastered by Cameron Lee
Album artwork by Ivy Gardens
Death of Don Valley is Canadian Content (MAPL)
Ivy Gardens is:
Joe Zandwyk – Drums, Vocals, Samples
Sebastian Hogg – Organ, Piano, Synth, Samples
Andrew Blackborow – Guitar, Vocals
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well