Dreadnought

Dreadnought formed in the Pacific Northwest, with Justin Bean moving from poetry to music after what he described as a difficult time. The band's sound draws from heavy influences like Neurosis, Swans, and Ulver, but they've never been easy to categorize. Their 2019 album 'A Drifting Reign' became a focal point, with songs like 'Besieged' and 'Vacant Sea' showing their approach to dense, atmospheric arrangements.

Bean handles vocals and guitar alongside Kevin Handlon on guitar, Andrew Longino on bass, and Edmund Edwards on drums. Their work together tends to build slowly, shifting between quiet passages and heavier sections rather than sticking to one tempo or mood. The lyrics on 'A Drifting Reign' deal with memory and loss, but the music itself carries as much weight as the words.

They released their first album 'Emergence' in 2015 and have kept a steady pace since, though they've faced some criticism from listeners who prefer more straightforward metal. Their records don't really sound like anyone else's, which has earned them a dedicated following even if it hasn't made them widely known. Songs like 'Pestilent' and 'The Waking Realm' show how they balance melody with heavier textures without settling into a predictable pattern.