Danava Preview New Album With ‘The Illusion Crawls’ — Song Premiere

Portland psychedelic stoner metal band Danava were so excited about 'The Illusion Crawls' -- a song they wrote for the follow-up to their 2008 disc 'UnonoU' -- that they wanted to put it out on a split-release with Earthless and Lecherous Gaze.

From the bluesy spider web guitar intro to the furious main riff that tumbles like clothes in a dryer, 'Illusion Crawls' exhibits all of Danava's strengths -- Ozzy-inspired vocals, a post-Black Sabbath doom spirit bred from the musty bowels of Trouble/St. Vitus and a dizzying, apocalyptic sense of dread.

Listen to 'The Illusion Crawls'

"The song isn't really about any one thing," frontman Greg Meleney told Noisecreep. "I guess the dominating theme is fear mixed in with a little sleep deprivation, frightful hallucinations and mental breakdown."

Although Danava have just unleashed the song, they actually wrote 'The Illusion Crawls' two and a half years ago, waiting for the right moment to release it.

"Like all of our songs, it came about easily, then turned into a chore putting it together," Meleney said. "Sometimes we get hung up forever on five-second parts."

Danava are especially stoked that 'The Illusion Crawls' will be sharing space with two of their favorite contemporary groups. "I love Earthless and Lecherous Gaze more than most bands I hear today," Meleney said. "I feel like every band on this record has a distinct voice that belongs to them alone.

"Of course you're gonna hear something recognizable within any song in this day and age, but I feel like all three of us defy the genre-tagging game and give our music a great freedom that will keep things interesting and full of endless possibilities."

The next Danava album will be their first to feature drummer Matt Oliver (the replacement for Monte Mattsson, who left to study biology in 2009) and rhythm guitarist Andrew Forgash. Look for it later this year.

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