Grief Relic

Withered

Released by Season of Mist

May 27th, 2016

8 tracks

38:32

Grief Relic

Leathery Rind

0:00

4:35

Leathery Rind

Withered

Peering onto this surface, I watch the wrinkles of age struggle to contain their wisdoms. The anguish of this volatile potential for revelation only intensifies my dwindling compassion, the writhing beneath my leathery rind taunts as to withdraw from me and harden its facade. If only to endure another age, another moment. A moment that defines my being, and strengthens my endlessness. When I'm here, I'm farthest from all else, I can remove my perspective of now to reach beyond it and catch glimpses of all that will belong to me.

4:35

A Realm of Suffering

Withered

A realm of suffering approaches without will or intent. Its icy and directionless boundaries expand to penetrate the tips of my outstretched toes & fingers to slowly begin its blind consumption of the ability to embrace myself with love or trust. It continually creeps with a lingering solitude and a brilliant resolve. A simple state of disregard redirects my focus to challenge my instinct for self preservation. The serene beauty of abandon dulls the sting of mental clarity. It halos my perspective and exemplifies all of the shortcomings that coerce me back amongst the comfort of fear and naivety.

6:20

Withdraw

Withered

Living is suffocating Cover with grave dirt (Drawn) Blood confessions From swollen tongue An anchor in the heart Of ambition The yellow Color Of Pathetic

3:54

Feeble Gasp

Withered

My pale tremblings reverberate into the cradling shadows. As my grasp begins to tire, the pain takes root, binding me to this darkening corner. My toenails pry into the cracked floorboards as all I cling to softly dims and leaves me with nothing but the rhythm of feeble gasping. Subtle breaths brush against my dry cracked lips like fleeting dreams escaping through the gap between regret and longing. A moment of pause turns my empty gaze into a glare of wonderment. Within this moment, abandonment revels. Subtle breaths.

5:49

Husk

Withered

The name chocked Through clenched teeth Whispered in darkness - in darkness The path he follows is uninspired & fruitless As barren as her womb His ghost wanders these parts That warns the wary & the travel sick A hope that all men learn of his mistakes Unpleasant air Dig him up

4:42

Downward

Withered

Empty mind, no peace Battle against the eternal spiral Coils down where death goes to breathe

3:53

Distort, Engulf

Withered

3:45

To Glimpse Godliness

Withered

As I dwell in the confines of this box, I can peer into the limitless black and the entirety of nothingness is laid out before me. This reverant beauty engulfs my heart and mind as I ascend into a state of levity. I long to achieve the impossibility of an emptier nothingness. I gouge out my eyes if only to preserve this limitlessness for a moment longer. The relief of despair overwhelms me knowing that tears can no longer distort my sight, instead, they flow to engulf my lingering weakness, beholding this glory is to glimpse godliness.

5:34

Atlanta's WITHERED return with 'Grief Relic', their first new album in almost six years. An imposing slab of discordant death, 'Grief Relic' sees founder Mike Thompson (guitars/vocals) and long-time drummer Beau Brandon add the talents of bassist Colin Marston (GORGUTS) and guitarist/vocalist Ethan McCarthy (PRIMITIVE MAN). With this, the quartet take a distinct step forward in the evolution of the veteran band. The hulking, eight song album is meticulously crafted and strikes a balance between vivid dynamics and oppressive weight. 'Grief Relic' is a masterful stroke of uniquely American blackened death and WITHERED's finest moment yet.