Track By Tracks: Greybeard - Session IV - The Citadel (2023)

Creative Approach

Ross: For this recording, I took a different approach. Rather than trying to create longer, more epic songs, I wanted the entire recording to be under 15 minutes. This meant every song needed to be no more than 3 minutes. Mission accomplished. I also wanted to increase the aggression and intensity of the songs. I wanted them to hit harder, shorter duration and ideally, leave the listener wanting a bit more.

1.Descent:

Ross - Instrumental. As an intro, I wanted this song to be short, sweet and make the listener feel like they were spinning or falling into the abyss. The story starts off with the characters' descent into hell, specifically, the first plane – Avernus – and the circular leads in the second half of the song really lend themselves to that feeling.

2. River of Blood:

Ross: After a creepy little clean intro, with a cool bass line, we’re back to standard Greybeard groove with heavy riffs and some great hooks. I’m really happy with the transition into the solo – super catchy riff under a ripping good shred by Guy! I really like how the song moves from part to part without any let up. This keeps the song interesting and the energy level stays on high the whole time. The lyrics on this one are about the River Styx and what Avernus looks, feels and smells like – basically a song about what the characters are experiencing as they roam about Avernus trying to fulfill their quest.

3. Lost Memory:

Ross: Instrumental. In the story, the characters meet a Hollyphant (a tiny, flying elephant with kick-ass magical powers) named Lulu who helps them on their quest to save the city of Elturel and redeem the fallen angel, Zariel. The song is positioned around the moment where Lulu’s memory is failing her as to how to find the way to the Blood Citadel, where the sword to free Zariel is kept. Musically, I wanted to try something a bit more spacey, and I really wanted to use phaser effects on my guitar. The bass lines on this one are really cool as they’re serving as more of a lead with the guitars as the foundational rhythms.

4.Pathways:

Ross: This is by far the most aggressive, brutal song that Greybeard has ever recorded and I love it! The drums are absolutely pounding on this song and drive this one like a goddamn locomotive train! This one is pretty thrashy, with epic blast beats, a scorching solo and a really cool breakdown that reminds me of the Dillinger Escape Plan. Also includes a spooky, spoken-word part. At this point in the story, the characters must choose how they want to proceed to find the Blood Citadel – the path of the demons or the path of the devils – and the lyrics refer to key moments from both journeys.

5. The Citadel:

Ross: The last song on the EP with a bit of an epic intro that kicks into driving double-kicks and lays down some super catchy riffs. The chorus gets slow and brutal with some really catchy stutter stops. The intensity turns to full about half way through when the guitar gets on the blast beat train and goes full-tilt. From there it gets into Sabbath-inspired, stoner-rock, headbanging riffs and into more eerie spoken-word. This is really the end of the story, when the characters have reached the Blood Citadel and have confronted Zariel.