Castle Black take a stand with powerfully reflective single “Sierra”

NYC post-punk/grunge outfit release socially powerful track; premiered on Uncivil Revolt
Proceeds raised from Bandcamp sales to be donated to No Means No Worldwide

For Fans Of: The Dead Weather, L-7, Hole, Savages, Sonic Youth

BROOKLYN, NY | JUNE 15, 2018 – Television, internet and social media make it easier than ever to bring world issues to light – but an overwhelming quantity of information also makes it easy for them to be forgotten, as one day rolls into the next. Brooklyn post-punk/grunge band Castle Black use their new single “Sierra” to revive one such issue; bringing fresh awareness to the ongoing hardships and atrocities that women across the globe still face. The song was directly inspired by the plight of women in Sierra Leone, many of whom face hunger, domestic and sexual violence, and lack of legal action to provide change, all in a country still recovering from civil war. An ongoing daily struggle, their situation, and the fight of many others too often becomes overlooked and forgotten. “Sierra” provides a powerfully reflective piece, providing a stand for many who don’t have a voice.

“I wrote ‘Sierra’ after reading an article on women in Sierra Leone, and the horrible atrocities faced on a daily basis, simply for being women,” commented vocalist/guitarist Leigh Celent. “It’s a song that can be applied to really any situation that is horrific and where some awful person makes someone else suffer for no reason other than their own inhumanity and personal gain. I don’t want to be too specific in my interpretation of the song, as it’s really a song that someone can take so much from, depending on their perspective.” A social anthem, both directly in reference to Sierra Leone as well as on a wider scope, the song reminds individuals to stand up for others and speak against violence and injustices, whether occurring near or far. “Sierra” premeired on Uncivil Revolt, who added that the track can, “make you feel the entirety of the pain felt by many and more than you can imagine.”

Utilizing a repetitive, syncopated chord, the song provides a minimalistic start, focusing the listener on the gravity of the lyrics. “I’ve been inspired by various minimalist composers and the idea of doing more with less. The syncopation of the verses is really what makes the sound there, almost like a heartbeat, a simple but strong backbone for these very powerful words,” shared Celent. Recorded by Michael Abiuso (The Venetia Fair, Kiss Kiss, The Gay Blades) at Behind the Curtains Media, the track was mixed by legendary engineer, producer and musician Mark Plati (David Bowie, Prince, Spookey Ruben, The Cure, Duncan Sheik, etc.). Plati contributed mixes for a number of tracks off the band’s upcoming EP the gods that adored you, which is scheduled for release on June 29. As the lead single, “Sierra” showcases not only a bold social stand, but also presents a confident showcase of Castle Black’s sound, presenting a mix of their signature heavy-hitting post-punk and grunge tones, along with their comfort to experiment into new territory on their fourth studio release.

“Sierra” is out everywhere today, and available for stream and download on Spotify, Bandcamp, iTunesand all major digital retailers. The band will donate 100% of sales of “Sierra”, purchased via Bandcampuntil the EP release, to No Means No Worldwide, a charity that focuses on sexual violence intervention, awareness and empowerment through education and training of young boys and girls in countries with rampant sexual abuse rates. No Means No currently operates in Kenya and Malawai, and with more funding, can hopefully can bring their novel approach to rape prevention to other countries. Castle Black has a full summer tour booked, bringing them across the midwestern and eastern U.S; dates can be found below. NYC fans can join the band for their EP release show on June 28 at The Well (Brooklyn, NY) with support from Bloody Your Hands, I Am The Polish Army, and Quick Hundo. Digital and physical formats of the gods that adored you will be released on on Friday, June 29 on all retailers. Surging forth on all fronts, Castle Black step forward as a must-watch band of the year.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES: