Knoxville’s deathcore juggernaut WHITECHAPEL has once again raised the stakes with their latest release, “A Visceral Retch.” This ferocious track made its debut on September 11th, 2024, first hitting the airwaves on SiriusXM before being unleashed across digital platforms later that evening.
With this release, WHITECHAPEL not only reinforces their standing as stalwarts of the deathcore genre but also introduces a new permanent member to their ranks, drummer Brandon Zackey, formerly of ENTERPRISE EARTH.
“A Visceral Retch” immediately draws comparisons to WHITECHAPEL’s earlier work, particularly their debut album The Somatic Defilement.
Vocalist Phil Bozeman himself remarked that fans of that era will find a familiar, yet darker, resonance in this track. He credits guitarist Zach Householder for bringing this song to life, noting that it was one of the first ideas they had ready to work with for their upcoming ninth studio album.
Comments Phil, “‘A Visceral Retch’ is a song that fans of The Somatic Defilement will latch onto immediately. It was one of the first songs we had in the chamber to work with. This song came to light thanks mostly to [guitarist] Zach Householder. He showed us and we all immediately said, ‘yup, that’s it.’ Zach is notorious for very dark and horror-like vibes so this album is right in his wheelhouse. The song is disturbing. Imagine being put in a situation of survival by gluttonous, mammoth demons that give you a choice. Eat the demons’ waste, eat each other, or starve to death. The twist, you’re against the people you love the most. It’s a way to find the ones that are truly evil people to build and strengthen their cult. It also represents how horrible people can really be, when push comes to shove.”
Bozeman’s description of the song’s theme is as chilling as the music itself: “Imagine being put in a situation of survival by gluttonous, mammoth demons that give you a choice. Eat the demons’ waste, eat each other, or starve to death. The twist, you’re against the people you love the most. It’s a way to find the ones that are truly evil people to build and strengthen their cult.” The narrative paints a bleak picture of survival, betrayal, and the depths of human depravity, reflecting the grotesque and unsettling nature of the track.
Musically, “A Visceral Retch” is a testament to WHITECHAPEL’s ability to blend brutal riffs with a haunting atmosphere. The song’s structure is tight, with the band’s signature breakdowns and guttural vocals creating a visceral experience. Zach Householder’s influence is evident, as the track leans heavily into the horror-like vibes that he is known for, evoking a sense of dread and unease.
Brandon Zackey’s drumming also shines on this track, marking his first recorded contribution since officially joining the band. His aggressive style complements the band’s sound, adding a new layer of intensity that is sure to please long-time fans and new listeners alike.
The lyrics of “A Visceral Retch” are as graphic and unrelenting as the music. The imagery of consumption, both literal and metaphorical, is pervasive throughout the song. Lines like “Consume the consumed” and “Eviscerate to rid the taste” depict a nightmarish scenario where survival comes at the cost of one’s humanity. The lyrics delve into themes of gluttony, cannibalism, and the grotesque reality of being forced to turn against loved ones, all set against a backdrop of death and decay.
The chorus, “They cannot stomach the smell, mangled innards wrench as they swell / An eternal song of visceral retch,” captures the essence of the track’s title, with the visceral imagery serving as a metaphor for the song’s deeper themes of moral degradation and the lengths to which people will go to survive.
WHITECHAPEL will serve as direct support to Lorna Shore on their upcoming, mostly sold out, North American headlining tour. The journey begins on September 19th at Montreal, Quebec, runs through October 30th in Wallingford, Connecticut, and includes performances at Louder Than Life and Aftershock. Additional support on the tour will be provided by Kublai Khan TX and Sanguisugabogg.
In November, the band will join Thy Art Is Murder for eight dates in Latin America before closing out the year in late December with the Tennessee Takeover 2024, a trio of headlining shows through Chattanooga, Nashville, and Knoxville. Support will be provided by Sanguisugabogg, Gates To Hell, and Peeling Flesh.
WHITECHAPEL w/ Lorna Shore, Kublai Khan TX, Sanguisugabogg:
9/19/2024 MTELUS – Montreal, QC (Sold Out)
9/20/2024 HISTORY – Toronto, ON (Sold Out)
9/21/2024 UPMC Events Center – Coraopolis, PA
9/22/2024 Greensboro Special Events Center – Greensboro, NC
9/24/2024 Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL (Sold Out)
9/25/2024 Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA (Sold Out)
9/27/2024 Louder Than Life @ Highland Festival Grounds/Kentucky Expo Center – Louisville, KY (Festival)
9/28/2024 The Pageant – St. Louis, MO (Sold Out)
9/29/2024 Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK (Sold Out)
10/02/2024 The Fillmore New Orleans – New Orleans, LA
10/03/2024 House Of Blues – Houston, TX (Sold Out)
10/04/2024 Boeing Center At Tech Port – San Antonio, TX (Sold Out)
10/05/2024 South Side Ballroom – Dallas, TX (Sold Out)
10/07/2024 The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ (Sold Out)
10/08/2024 Brooklyn Bowl – Las Vegas, NV (Sold Out)
10/10/2024 House Of Blues – Anaheim, CA (Sold Out)
10/11/2024 The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA (Sold Out)
10/12/2024 Aftershock @ Discovery Park – Sacramento, CA (Festival)
10/14/2024 Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR (Sold Out)
10/15/2024 Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC (Sold Out)
10/17/2024 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT (Sold Out)
10/18/2024 Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO (Sold Out)
10/19/2024 Steelhouse Omaha – Omaha, NE
10/20/2024 The Fillmore Minneapolis Presented By Affinity Plus – Minneapolis, MN (Sold Out)
10/22/2024 Radius Chicago – Chicago, IL (Sold Out)
10/23/2024 The Fillmore Detroit – Detroit, MI (Sold Out)
10/25/2024 The Fillmore Silver Spring – Silver Spring, MD (Sold Out)
10/27/2024 Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, NY (Sold Out)
10/28/2024 MGM Music Hall At Fenway – Boston, MA
10/29/2024 The Fillmore Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA (Sold Out)
10/30/2024 The Dome @ Oakdale – Wallingford, CT (Sold Out)
w/ Thy Art Is Murder:
11/27/2024 Cafe Iguana – Monterrey, MX
11/29/2024 C4 Concert House – Guadalajara, MX
11/30/2024 Circo Volador – Mexico City, MX
12/02/2024 Peppers club – San José, CR
12/04/2024 Boro Room – Bogota, CO
12/06/2024 Telethon Theatre – Santiago, CL
12/08/2024 Cine Joia – São Paulo, BR
12/10/2024 Groove – Buenos Aires, AR
Tennessee Takeover w/ Sanguisugabogg, Gates To Hell, Peeling Flesh:
12/19/2024 The Signal – Chattanooga, TN
12/20/2024 Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN
12/21/2024 The Mill & Mine – Knoxville, TN
