Savage Lands will be releasing their guest-filled debut album “Army Of The Trees” on February 15th via Season Of Mist. The environmentally active outfit will be devoting 100% of the royalties from the release to forest preservation projects they have been undertaking in Costa Rica, Africa and France.
The project itself is spearheaded by Megadeth, Bent Sea drummer Dirk Verbeuren, and Sylvain Demercastel. That duo have thus far channeled their efforts into a non-profit of the same name that has raised millions to preserve swathes of rain forest and more. The band incarnation of the outfit finds Poun on vocals, Demercastel on guitars, Etienne Treton on bass and Florian Pons on drums.
This forthcoming album will find the collective joined by the likes of Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), John Tardy (Obituary), Kenny Andrews (Obituary), Lord Of The Lost, Heilung‘s Maria Franz and Kai Uwe Faust, Julian Truchan (Benighted), along with members of Black Bomb A and Chloe Trujillo.
Additional guest participants involved include:
Steeven Corsini (Loco Muerte)
Auré Jäger (Akiavel)
David & Viber (Sidilarsen)
Niko Jones (Tagada Jones)
Stéphane Buriez (Loudblast, Sinsaenum)
Nils Courbaron (Bloodorn, Sirenia, DDC)
Aurelien Ouzoulias (The Beat Factory, Mörglbl)
Demercastel said of the motivation for the project, “After hearing the chainsaws on a daily basis, we knew it was time to act, because the buzzing is only getting louder.” Regarding this album, he offered:
“We wanted the music to reflect our mounting frustration with the way the real estate heat wave is destroying Costa Rica’s ecosystem. For so long, nature has been trying to warn us that we’re putting our future at risk.”
The band collectively added of their efforts:
“Our goals are attainable. By converting the land that we purchase into nature sanctuaries, Savage Lands will help set a precedent for environmental activism. But we must work together and quickly. Ecosystems are still under attack. If we don’t, then there won’t be any wildlife left to save.”
The non-profit have received a glowing recommendation from animal conservation activist and noted primatologist, zoologist, etc. Dr. Jane Goodall, who has partnered with with the band via her Jane Goodall Institute. She commented:
“What Savage Lands is doing is fantastic. Nature is music. Trees have music, but when we lose species after species, our ecosystem collapses. Savage Lands are using their music to support projects that promote biodiversity, which will help make the world better for future generations.”
“Army Of The Trees” track listing:
01 – “Black Rock Heart” (feat. Kai Uwe Faust & Chloe Trujillo)
02 – “Ruling Queen” (feat. Alissa White-Gluz, Kenny Andrews)
03 – “The Last Howl” (feat. John Tardy & Andreas Kisser)
04 – “No Remedy” (feat. Maria Franz)
05 – “Out Of Breath” (feat. Lord Of The Lost & Chloe Trujillo)
06 – “Better Man”
07 – “Never Be Up”
08 – “Army Of The Trees”
09 – “Visions Of Life”
10 – “Addicted”
Verbeuren contributed drum tracks to the songs, “Black Rock Heart“, “The Last Howl” and “Out Of Breath“. For more on Savage Lands and their conservation & reforestation efforts, head to savagelands.org.
