Beastwars Unveil New Single 'The Storm' + Video

Giving you a sonic kick in the pants to get your week started are Pōneke metal masters Beastwars, who've rolled out the second single from their feverishly awaited sixth studio album The Ship // The Sea. A theme befitting their elemental sound and windswept coastal hometown, 'The Storm' feels like Beastwars at the peak of their powers — a fully committed, thrashing and crashing / crushing churn, "like a storm that never ends."

The accompanying video montage provides a super illuminating look at how Nick Keller hand-painted the eldritch dramatic artwork for Beastwars' new album — no AI tomfoolery here. Read Keller's insights below, preorder vinyl LP edition of The Ship // The Sea HERE (out in full 7th November via Destroy Records), experience 'The Storm' and don't miss Beastwars touring nationwide next month...

"From my earliest discussions with drummer Nato about the new album, the ocean theme was the primary lead. As writing progressed, singer Matt was keen to explore the idea of a ship adrift upon a turbulent sea as an overarching metaphor for the human individual navigating the upheavals of life. The calm and chaos, the beauty and terror, the knowns and unknowns. Interweaving the ominous ufo and sea monster elements not only emphasised the central theme, but made a call back to past albums.

For the ship, I wanted to portray a character battle-weary but defiant. The aesthetic draws from the WWI British super dreadnoughts. Matt resonated with the old covers of Commando Comics and we figured the warships of this particular era worked well with the sci-fi vibes.

The band has always been great at providing rough mixes of the music along the way, this time being no exception. Listening on repeat while pulling the various threads into a painting composition always makes for a compelling synergy of artforms.

After a couple months of planning and composing mockups, the final oil on canvas painting came together rapidly over a couple of weeks of late nights and early mornings, so much so the paint was still wet when Beastwars announced the album and unveiled the artwork. Nothing like a good deadline to get shit done!" - Nick Keller

Beastwars - The Ship // The Sea - Album Release Tour

Thursday 20th November - Last Place, Hamilton w/ Pull Down The Sun*
Friday 21st November - Double Whammy, Auckland w/ Soft Bait, Demons of Noon*
Saturday 22nd November - Meow Nui, Wellington w/ Soft Bait, Pull Down The Sun
Friday 28th November - Dropkicks, Dunedin w/ SLUR, Splinter
Saturday 29th November - Churchill's, Christchurch w/ From Moose Mountain*

*Tickets on sale HERE via UTR
More info and tickets via beastwarsband.com

'The Ship // The Sea' is out in full on Friday 7th November via Destroy Records.