Kansas City speed/thrash band HELLEVATE is now streaming the second single off their forthcoming EP, The Purpose is Cruelty. The song, titled “Dagon,” is rooted in Lovecraftian mythos. Vocalist Robert Browne explains:

“Two of my favorite Lovecraft stories are Dagon and The Cats of Ulthar, and I always wanted to write about both. There have been multiple iterations of this song from past projects, all leading up to this finished product that you hear now. I sought to tell the whole story and convey the internal horror of the situation H.P. wrote of.

Perhaps it was fate that kept this song in the workshop until now when the subject of isolated anxiety is more familiar than ever with the public (which also lent itself to the following track on the EP). We wanted the song to be heavy and chaotic, a gradual conscious dissolution of sanity, and we accomplished that.

Don’t go exploring mysterious smelly islands”

The band joined forces with DeadRhetoric.com for the premiere of “Dagon.” Stream it now at this location.

The Purpose of Cruelty features five aggressive tracks of classic speed/thrash metal with a modern attack. A violent hybrid of East Coast and Bay Area thrash, the EP shows why HELLEVATE has been called “a new hope for thrash” (All Around Metal).

The Purpose is Cruelty will be out on January 14, 2023.

Stream the EP’s title track on Spotify.

Tracklist:
The Purpose is Cruelty
Dagon
Buried Under Mistakes
Die or Be Killed
(No) Further Action is Required

Playing melodic thrash metal with a mixture of extreme and power metal thrown in to keep listeners on their toes, HELLEVATE draws from across the spectrum of sounds to forge the most potent of heavy metal. The band was formed in the late 2000s by guitarist Dan Whitmer, and while it has experienced several lineup changes, the band has found its superior form with the addition of Zack Burke, Joshua Cole, RJ Whitmer, and new singer Robert Browne.

HELLEVATE’s debut was released in 2012 and followed up in 2014 with the EP Kill Confirmed and the album Weapons Against Their Will in 2016. Singles “Last of the Fell” and “Krampusnacht” were released in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The band’s new EP, The Purpose Is Cruelty, is the culmination of the work the band has put in up to this point. Packed with riffs across a spectrum of sounds and the razor-sharp vocals of Robert, HELLEVATE seeks to make a statement with the release.

The band has established itself by sharing the bill with many nationally touring bands, including Exodus, Kreator, Accept, Overkill, Destruction, Ghoul, Venom Inc., and Danzig, just to name a few. With a great lineup and a bright future ahead of them, HELLEVATE continues to grow as a musical force in the metal world, and intends to dominate and annihilate for many years to come.

Line-Up:

Vocals: Robert Browne
Guitars: Dan “Danowar” Whitmer
Guitars: Josh “The Boss” Cole
Bass: Zack “The Ripper” Burke
Drums: RJ “The Machine Gun” Whitmer