Doomed Confessionary: Jackals’ Feast
In the foothills of the Sourland Mountains, on a chilly autumn night with a full moon hanging heavy in the sky, a witch lit a flame under her cauldron… and began preparing a wicked brew!
Into the bubbling concoction she placed the key ingredients: old Black Sabbath records, short story collections by Robert E Howard, Lovecraftian horror, and seven string guitars.
“Hmmm… close, yes, so close… but it’s still missing something,” she said when tasting it. And so she added in a generous helping of the ancient blues, and a handful of old-time banjo murder ballads. The cauldron boiled violently as she continued stirring it. The amber flames feeding it cast eery and fantastical shadows among the trees. The forest itself grew quiet and sullen in anticipation of the eldritch magic being summoned.
When at last the brew was perfect, the crone let out a gleeful cackle. “Doom Metal!!!,” she howled triumphantly, and her cry echoed through the hematite depths of the forest. And on that unholy night, with the smoke of the fire drifting ever upward, Jackals’ Feast was born!
On September 13th, 2024, Jackals’ Feast unleashed their stunning debut album, »Lost In The Forest And Tormented By Demons«, and the title says it all. Dark, soulful doom with touches of gothic Americana that simultaneously crushes and warms the soul.
Can you say a few words about your band?
Jackals’ Feast is a doom metal project based in New Jersey. When this started the intent was to do “pure” doom metal, however the minute the first song was released more than one person immediately commented on the Americana, blues, and gothic influences in the music.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Recording. It has been a pretty steep learning curve and the entire »Lost In The Forest And Tormented By Demons« album took around nine months to get right.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Actually finishing the album and releasing it. So far the response has been 100% positive and it’s been very humbling to see how people have reacted to what they’ve heard.
What was your biggest regret?
Not having the courage to go down this musical path sooner.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
As a listener? Seeing Wolves In The Throne Room at Underground Arts in Philly. Stylistically, they don’t have much overlap with Jackals’ Feast. But between the candles, the dimmed lights, fog machines, incense, and the overall vibe and atmosphere, it was incredibly inspiring.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Black Sabbath never leaves the rotation. Those albums with Ozzy are the I Ching, the sacred texts, the North Star. Crowbar’s latest is supremely underrated. Pallbearer. Telekinetic Yeti. Also a lot of more “epic” heavy metal like Eternal Champion and Megaton Sword. Jackals’ Feast plays at about half the tempo they do, but lyrically there’s a lot of common ground. Swords, sorcery, monsters, magic…
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
“Dude, you should get a seven string, you’d love it!”
What are your guilty pleasures?
I don’t feel guilty about any of them!
Can you say something more about current music scene in Trenton / New Jersey?
There are some great venues that host a lot of underground acts and unfortunately all of those venues are at least a forty minute drive.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Nowhere. Sorry!
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Releasing this album and promoting the hell out of it.
How can people best support your band?
The old cliche: Like/subscribe/comment/share!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well