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"Drown" was written back in 2011. It was originally meant to be on the follow up to The Gates of Slumber album, 'The Wretch'. "Drown" is about drinking yourself to death."

-Karl Simon

There's a whole lot in that sentence. Let's unpack it.

"Drown" is the closing song from Wretch, the first album guitarist and singer Karl Simon has released in five years. That record from 2011? Also called The Wretch, except it was released by the band The Gates of Slumber. "Drown" is about drinking oneself to death, and so was "The Scourge ov Drvnkenness," a song from the 2011 Wretch album.

In fact, everything about Simon's new project sounds a whole lot like his last one. Still slow and bluesy. Still heavy. Still depressing.

Scratch that, maybe more depressing. Simon folded The Gates of Slumber not long before the too-early passing of that project's longtime bassist, Jason McCash in 2014. The project's drummer, J. Clyde Paradis, passed away earlier this week on August 14th. Wretch (2016) is a tribute to McCash's memory, as well as a more solemn record overall. “The days of swords and sorcery are pretty much over for me” notes Karl. “No more giant spiders or Ice Worms. There are real horrors that occupy my mind these days."

Put the bottle down. Put the headphones on.

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Wretch will be released on August 26 via Bad Omen Records. Pre-order it here. Follow Wretch on Facebook.

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