With several shows under their belt, the four musicians holed up at Alexander Lancaster's Two Wolves Studio in historic downtown Topeka to record their ambitious debut album, Season of the Witch, under the direction of producer and friend, David Steinlage. The seasoned and revered Mr. Jerry Tubb of Austin's Terra Nova Studios mastered the album, and the band formed a lasting relationship with designer Pol Abran of Branca Studio in Barcelona to oversee the album art. Heavy Planet praised the album in their review: "Straight out of Topeka, Kansas comes four riff-worshipping bandmates that unite their love of seventies heavy blues, occult-ish doom rock, and a free and easy vibe in what they like to call Stoner-lite. I would have to say that their sound would not qualify as "lite" in my book, in someone else's, maybe. The band's first single "Season of the Witch" is a slithering, hard-driving, and catchy tune that wraps around a tight groove. The vocals reign supreme with their bravado and mighty soaring ability. Youngblood Supercult has played alongside fellow [Topekans] and Heavy Planet favorite The Midnight Ghost Train. The band has a very straight-forward approach and a strong desire to make a name for themselves. Give Youngblood Supercult a listen, you'll be glad you did."
Following the release of Season of the Witch, vocalist Wyatt Desch left the group to focus on other endeavors. The remaining trio caught a break with the addition of their beloved friend and current vocalist, David Merrill. This transition marked a new era for the group. They wrote feverishly, departing from their previous driving heavy rock sound in favor of experimenting with elements of folk, blues, psych, and the droning, flat-tuned, off-time riffs that are the trademark of the traditional classic heavy stoner sound.
The response to their unique culmination of sound has been mammoth. The group began recording new material in late 2015. This process was not without its share of inner turmoil and strife between band members. As a result of creative differences between Coder and the rest of the group, David stepped up to record basslines on High Plains. After peacefully severing professional ties with their bassist, Youngblood Supercult consolidated into a three-piece group as David began and continues to work diligently on simultaneous vocals and bass. With three powerhouses now at the helm of the heavy, riff-laden, electric spaceship that is Youngblood Supercult, the band is mightier than ever.
The group released their sophomore album High Plains on February 19th, 2016, an album which has already received critical acclaim from The Obelisk's JJ Koczan, who wrote: "Midwestern fuzz ideologues Youngblood Supercult release their sophomore full-length, High Plains, on Feb. 19. An 11-track/48-minute CD with double-vinyl impending for this summer, it follows early 2014’s debut, Season of the Witch, and marks a significant change in vibe on the part of the graphic-design-inclined Topeka, Kansas, three-piece. Where the debut took a classic metal bent toward heavy rock, more straightforward and rhythmically driving, High Plains offers plenty of sonic weight — the guitar and bass working together on “Black Hawk,” or the clawing “Nomad” earlier on — but takes a more lurching, atmospheric approach overall. This seems to have been a purposeful shift in aesthetic as much as one of lineup, but either way, it suits them." High Plains also ranked at NUMBER 2 on the March Doom Charts (check it out here: https://doomcharts.com/2016/03/08/the-doom-chart-for-march-2016/), outranking several of the group's musical idols and solidifying High Plains as one of the more sublime pieces of music to hit the airwaves this year. And they have no plans of slowing down; they are currently writing material for a third album. Drink the Flavor-Aid, my friends. Join the cult.
Nomad
Youngblood Supercult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long-haired maidens dance through the amber brome,
Bought a patch of grass out on the countryside,
Hoping I could find myself at home.
But the open road keeps calling me,
A drifter I was meant to be,
Ramblin' on from town to town,
Autumn lurches into wretched winter storms,
Every creature flees the dying fields in fear,
I face the driving snow and harsh north winds,
And wish that I was somewhere far from here.
But the open road keeps calling me,
A drifter I was meant to be,
Ramblin' on from town to town,
Never catch me settling down.
I hope you find, that unnamable something.
I hope you find, that unnamable something.
If you should die, I'll tell you one thing:
I hope you find, that unnamable something.
Staggered back until I hit the bedroom door,
And in the stillness there I made a last resolve,
If I should live to be an elder man or more,
My fate and fortune will be that which I've been called.
The open road keeps calling me,
Stranger places I was meant to see,
Feeling trapped within my mind,
Gotta leave before I die.
The song Nomad by Youngblood Supercult is a reflection of the constant search for something more and the need for freedom. The songwriter describes the changing seasons and how they are a reminder of the fleeting nature of time. The long-haired maidens dancing through the amber brome represent the carefree spirit that the songwriter craves.
The songwriter bought a patch of grass in the countryside to try to find a sense of belonging, but the wanderlust in their heart keeps calling them to keep moving. They describe themselves as a drifter who is meant to be moving from town to town and never settling down. Even the harsh winter storms can't keep them still.
The chorus repeats that the open road keeps calling the songwriter, and they were meant to see stranger places. They feel trapped within their mind and have to leave before they die. The final verse shows the resolve the songwriter has made in their heart. They know that if they live to be an elder man, their fate and fortune will be what they've been called for, which is to keep moving, exploring the world, and searching for something more.
Overall, the song Nomad is a rallying cry for anyone who feels the need to break free of the ordinary and seek something more. The lyrics are evocative and suggest a sense of restlessness that many people can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer fades into burning autumn skies,
The shift from summer to autumn is marked by the sky transforming into a spectacle of vivid colors.
Long-haired maidens dance through the amber brome,
Women with long hair are seen joyfully dancing in the fields of amber-colored grass.
Bought a patch of grass out on the countryside,
The singer has purchased a piece of land in the rural area with hopes of finding a sense of belonging.
Hoping I could find myself at home.
The singer is seeking a place where they can feel a sense of comfort and belonging.
But the open road keeps calling me,
Despite seeking stability and a sense of home, the singer is still drawn to the idea of traveling.
A drifter I was meant to be,
The singer feels that they were born to live a transient lifestyle.
Ramblin' on from town to town,
The singer moves from place to place without ever settling.
Never catch me settling down.
The singer has no desire to stay in one place for an extended period of time.
Autumn lurches into wretched winter storms,
As autumn transitions into winter, the weather becomes harsh and miserable.
Every creature flees the dying fields in fear,
Animals are afraid of the approaching winter and are leaving the fields.
I face the driving snow and harsh north winds,
The singer is confronting the severe winter weather.
And wish that I was somewhere far from here.
The singer desires to escape the bleak winter landscape.
I hope you find, that unnamable something.
The singer hopes that someone will find an indescribable thing that will bring them happiness.
I hope you find, that unnamable something.
The singer repeats their hope that someone will find something that is difficult to put into words.
If you should die, I'll tell you one thing:
In the event of the listener's death, the singer has something important to say.
I hope you find, that unnamable something.
The singer hopes that the listener finds something intangible that can bring them contentment.
Staggered back until I hit the bedroom door,
The singer retreats to their bedroom until they have a moment of clarity.
And in the stillness there I made a last resolve,
During the quiet moment in their bedroom, the singer makes an important decision.
If I should live to be an elder man or more,
Assuming they live to old age, the singer has a plan for their life.
My fate and fortune will be that which I've been called.
The singer will accept their destiny and live the life that they feel they were meant to live.
Stranger places I was meant to see,
The singer believes that they were meant to explore unfamiliar places.
Feeling trapped within my mind,
Despite their wandering spirit, the singer feels confined in their own thoughts.
Gotta leave before I die.
The singer feels a sense of urgency to travel and explore before their time runs out.
Contributed by Lillian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Torquemada '71
Bands like this need more recognition
Dieterd Borgers
This is some seriously good stuff. ordered the cd :D
Ja Rom
This deserves to win playlist game.
Terrapin Hard Drive
Came here to say this
Mickey Marsh
My favorite song.
BBRocker75
¿Solo 7383 a la fecha que escribo este post? ¡Pero que le pasa a la gente! Si este tema y banda hubieran salido en los años 90 esta banda hubiera sido tan famosa como Nirvana o Pearl Jam o SoundGarden. Definitivamente esto nos demuestra tres cosas:
1. La buena música es buena SIEMPRE, escúchela mucha o pocas personas.
2. Alguna bandas y artistas a los que tanto quisimos en su momento fueron más producto de mercadeo que envejecieron mal luego de que pasaron de moda, mejor dicho, vimos lo malas que eran. O sea nos vendieron humo.
3. Algunas bandas y artistas del pasado fueron geniales, son esas joyas que descubrimos a través de medios como youtube pasados 10, 20, 30 años. No fueron famosos porque pues no era lo que le importaba a la industria promocionar en ese momento.