Unearthly Trance

Unearthly Trance

Unearthly Trance is a sludge and doom metal group from Long Island, United States. Formed in 2000, it is a trio made up of Ryan Lipynsky on guitar and vocals, Jay Newman on bass, and Darren Verni on drums. The band remains active.

Releases and labels

Unearthly Trance releases material on labels associated with doom and sludge metal, including Southern Lord, Rise Above Records and Relapse Records. Its fifth and final album, V, appears on Relapse Records and is produced by Sanford Parker, who also leads the post-metal band Minsk.

Style and themes

The band is associated with doom metal, sludge metal, and related extreme styles. Its music draws on black metal, death metal, crust punk and drone music. The songs are often lengthy and build slowly, with heavy drums, distorted guitar and bass, and harsh screamed vocals. The lyrics commonly focus on occult themes. The group also uses ambient and noise elements, giving some of its material a darker, more experimental character.

Activity and related projects

Unearthly Trance tours extensively and has shared bills with Sunn O))), Pelican, Electric Wizard and Morbid Angel. Ryan Lipynsky also fronts the black metal project The Howling Wind and the experimental hardcore group Pollution. All three members also play in Serpentine Path with Tim Bagshaw, formerly of Electric Wizard and Ramesses.