Premiere: Witnesses ‘The Collapse’ – New Album Releases On Hallows Eve

Multi-instrumentalist Greg Schwan returns under the Witnesses moniker for a near forty-minute album of mournful and atmospheric doom metal simply entitled The Collapse. Aided and abetted by select guest musicians, the six tracks take us on an epic journey through one man’s vision that is sure to captivate your soul.

This epic release is set to be unleashed on the most appropriate day that is Hallows Eve, which is this Sunday, 31st October. However, prior to it being available to the masses, we’re elated to bring you a stream of The Collapse in its entirety. So sit back for the next forty minutes, click play below, then head over to the Witnesses Bandcamp to make a pre-order.

More On Witnesses & ‘The Collapse’

The follow-up to Doom II, The Collapse sees Witnesses extending its doom rock styles into even darker territory on this outing. Drawing influence on the melancholy down-tuned guitar harmonies of 90s British doom, but adding more traditional rock elements, soaring vocals layer on dirges to tell a story of great distress and questions unanswered.

Formed in 2016 by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Greg Schwan, the goal of Witnesses has always been and continues to be the creation of evocative music in multiple genres. All principle writing and arrangement on The Collapse was handled by Schwan, with vital contributions provided by session musicians, accompanied by art and design that complements the lyrical concepts. As of 2021, Witnesses has explored cinematic ambient, doom metal, pop, and dark folk via six albums, an EP and four singles.

‘But, obviously, a narrator cannot take account of these differences of outlook. His business is only to say: ‘This is what happened,’ when he knows that it actually did happen…’ – Albert Camus, The Plague

They’re going missing. A search party went out in the night…but only some came back. What happened to the missing?

The Collapse Tracklisting:
01. Entrance
02. The Collapse
03. Repose
04. Interlude
05. They Giveth And Taketh Away
06. It Will Come For You, It Comes For Everyone

Witnesses is:
Greg Schwan – Guitar, bass guitar, keys, drum programming, arrangements, lyrics, mixing and mastering

Guest musicians on The Collapse:
Anlaik – Voice
Matt Kozar (Stellar Death) – EBow on Entrance and It Will Come For You, It Comes For Everyone
Scott Loose (Stellar Death) – Guitar solos on The Collapse and They Giveth And Taketh Away
Milana Zilnik – Piano on Interlude

Credits:
Recorded, mixed, and mastered at The Oak Lodge and other places
Additional production on Interlude by Arty Sandler
Cover art La Serrure, by Pierre Barraud de Lagerie
All art on physical release by Pierre Barraud de Lagerie; design by Andreas Levers

Witnesses latest opus The Collapse releases independently on Hallows Eve, 31st October, and is available as a CD and digital download over on Bandcamp.

Label: Independent
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram