The Best Band in Connecticut is Autumn’s Eyes
Back in August we asked you to help us find the best unsigned bands in America. After listening to hundreds of submissions, we’ve finally narrowed down our pick for the state that’s, uh, the southernmost state in New England? I don’t have anything creative for Connecticut. However, we figured out what the best unsigned band in the Nutmeg State (yes, that’s accurate) is: Autumn’s Eyes.
My musical diet as of late has consisted of gross, raw, nasty vitriol that shatters the knees of peasants and voids the bowels of plebs. I’ve been rabidly consuming the excrements of Yhdarl, wallowing in the muck of the new Thaw album, and writhing in the murk of Ævangelist’s Writhes in the Murk. As you can see, I have been quite trve this year, and Abbath is sure to leave me a vial of blasphemous pig’s blood under my Kvltsmas tree. So you can imagine my surprise when I came across Autumn’s Eyes and this happened: “Scoff. Das ist nicht krieg, NEXT. Well, after this song. Ok, that was kinda fun, maybe one more while I look for another band. Ha, this chorus is awesome. Definitely getting another band after this one, though. Ok, I might as well finish this album, and maybe a couple more. THIS IS AWESOME.”
Autumn’s Eyes is a one-man, horror-themed gothic rock/metal project by Daniel Mitchell, who happens to also run an awesome horror-themed blog. Type O Negative fans should kick back and relax pretty easily here, along with anyone who likes a slight industrial feel without being beaten about the head and neck with it. Mitchell’s strong, clear, mid-range baritone is highly infectious, locking listeners in with catchy lines that have a lot of fun but never feel insincere. The same goes for the instruments, and I found myself seriously digging the bass lines on more than one occasion. The lead guitar work in The Wooded Road, my favorite track from 2012’s Please Deceive Me, weaves beautifully with the tasteful keyboards, and the extended instrumental sections recall classic, Carpenter-esque horror themes. His whole discography is brimming with a catchiness that I don’t feel bad about buying into, along with an honesty that sells the whole package nicely.
Autumn’s Eyes was just the band we needed to add some variety to our hunt for the best unsigned band in the US. I know I’m not alone in my love for gritty, crusty metal that tests your listening limits, as evidenced by the writer’s picks for the first few states. However, it’s very rewarding to take time to appreciate the incredible diversity that our favorite genre offers. So don’t bang your head, but bob it convincingly along with Autumn’s Eyes, like him on Facebook, check out Daniel’s blog, and leave a comment or two!
Thoughts from some other judges:
W: Autumn’s Eyes are a fantastic example of how metal can still be intriguing without being extreme. With songcraft that seemingly draws from Type O Negative and Prong, this is enchanting traditional metal that fits the season perfectly.
Leif Bearikson: A band that features solid grooves, Halloween themes, catchy as all hell vocals and a song called Anxiety Spiders? I’ll take two, please.
MoshOff: Progressive, dark atmospheric metal that relies on gravely vocals to drive the point home. It’s refreshing to hear a band on the depressive side of things that doesn’t sound like a poorly recorded session of someone being tortured in a frostbitten forest. Also, the electronic elements make for a nice contrast.
The Toilet ov Hell is on an absurd quest to find the best unsigned band in each state of this glorious union. The purpose? To shine some the spotlight on bands that deserve more exposure. Also, we’re going to determine once and for all the greatest state in the nation. Each state winner is decided by a collection of 25 judges. After we’ve announced the winner of each state, we’re gonna throw them all in a winner-take-all bracket and leave the votes up to you. Who will be the best unsigned band in the United States? Which state is superior? We can’t wait to find out.
Previous winners:
Alabama — Phylum
Alaska — Terraform
Arizona – Take Over And Destroy
Arkansas – Torii
California – Destroy Judas
Colorado – The Sleer
