BeatRoute Magazine Alberta print e-edition - October 2016

UADA
American black metal quartet casually drop one of 2016’s most vicious offerings
by Sarah Kitteringham
UADA tours Alberta in October with enigmatic Colorado black metal band Helleborous.
2016 has hardly been a banner year for black
metal. While a handful of long-running
entities like Rotting Christ, Ulver, Darkthrone,
Inquisition, and Destroyer 666 have released
albums, next to no bands have broken into popular
consciousness on the strength of their debut. Like
it was in 2015, when longstanding outfit MGLA
dropped their third release Exercises in Futility and
suddenly gained tens of thousands of new fans,
2016 saw Finnish outfit Oranssi Pazuzu’s psychedelic
and offbeat fourth full-length Värähtelijä
break through after years of experience. That said,
the album hardly fits within any of black metal’s
parameters, instead offering entrancing and hypnotic
syncopation and bizarre chord progressions
amidst vast spacey sections and croaking vocals.
Despite few bands truly becoming known to
metal aficionados worldwide, the underground
has been awash with surprisingly strong offerings
that should push their creators into the spotlight.
Among them are releases by Predatory Light, Sorcier
Des Glaces, RID, Bog of the Infidel, Nox Formulae,
Gevurah, Illithid, and UADA; the latter of whom
dropped Devoid of Light in April via Eisenwald, a
German record label that specializes in black metal.
It is likely the biggest break-out in the genre this year,
and deservedly so; its five tracks are awash with cold,
howling vocals, vicious tremolo picking, and massive
instrumental freakouts. Indeed, if you’re a fan of the
one-two punch sell, UADA’s would be “RIYL: MGLA,
Dissection. It’s a throwback to the second wave of
black metal that emerged from Scandinavia, with all
the melody, atmosphere, and massive hooks you’ve
been yearning for.”
According to guitarist and vocalist Jake Superchi,
who helped form the band in 2014, it’s hardly
deliberate that their cumulative efforts resulted in
such a specific sound. Instead, he and his band mates
Robb Bockman (bass), Trevor Matthews (drums),
and James Sloan (guitars) got to this point following
years of experience in other projects, and are breaking
through courtesy of their drive.
“All of us do have some decent experience, of
course gaining even more with UADA. James, Trevor,
[and] Robb were the picks when I thought of starting
a new band. All of our previous bands have been
playing together for years. I have personally booked
many festivals and shows in town and I knew these
three would be right for the next move,” he explains
during a brief e-mail interview.
“It may sound a little arrogant to say we are not
surprised but as said earlier we came out blazing and
hungry with goals and visions. We are careful with our
booking and presentation.”
Partially inspired by a global resurgence in the
underground of the genre (Superchi says “black metal
in 2016 is the best it’s been in 20 years”), UADA has
already shared the stage with Mortuary Drape and
Inquisition, and have upcoming performances scheduled
with Rotting Christ and Marduk.
“We as people are not competitive types, but starting
this band we made it our mission to be one of the
best black metal bands out there. We will continue to
push forward in that direction, we have a mission and
music is what drives our lives,” he writes.
“There is a second album in the works, nothing
I can speak of yet. We have had some other labels
write us recently but our second album will again be
released through Eisenwald.”
With a namesake that translates to “Haunted”
in Latin, UADA’s thematic presentation is strong.
Devoid of Light’s artwork features the skeleton of an
adult clutching their skeleton child amidst a volcanic,
scorched earth. The lyrics are awash with references
to chaos and darkness; live, the band performs back
lit, obscured by a curtain of fog.
“It is a very important part to our show. We back
light ourselves and add fog to create a wall and we
become shadows in it,” explains Superchi.
“That was how we wanted to present ourselves
and our live setting. It was meant to be the anti-image,
which has become something in itself.”
He concludes, “We are looking forward to sharing
our craft with everyone in Alberta soon.”
UADA perform at Distortion in Calgary with
Helleborous, Numenorean, Cell, and Traer on Friday,
October 21st. They perform in Edmonton as a part
of Black Mourning Light Metal Festival on Saturday,
October 22nd.
48 | OCTOBER 2016 • BEATROUTE SHRAPNEL