Certain Death is a heavy psychedelic, guitar-worshipping, long-haired caravan of four true pioneers of the musical craft. Henry Black, songwriter and guitarist, is joined by Matt White on guitar, Jerry Smiles on bass, and CJ Young on drums to form the ultimate rock and roll machine, bound for glory and made of metal.
The legacy of New York City rock’ n’ roll is in good hands if bands like Certain Death are leading the next wave of the movement. While this may seem like a lofty claim for a band whose debut record was released in 2024, this new slew of singles should be enough to flip any skeptic into a Certain Death believer, and “White Clouds” is just the start. The latest single from the proto-metal outfit is a searing, chugging performance that manipulates the boundaries of rock’s subgenres to create a unified wall of sound. There is a breezy fuzz to the vocals that creates palpable textures when set against the crashing drum patterns and complex guitar riffs, but that sonic chaos is where Certain Death seems to thrive. “White Clouds” is far from an amalgamation of nuanced tropes glued together by a pure passion to do so. Each element, from the ripping guitar solo to the slow-burning psychedelia of the outro, feels meticulous and purposeful, giving “White Clouds” that authenticity that separates Certain Death from a burgeoning NYC scene.
