Wolf Creek by Veradas

Portland psych-rock trio Veradas revel in the freedom of having no fixed identity. Drawing from grunge, shoegaze, krautrock, jazz, funk and even The Everly Brothers, the band turns its wide-ranging impulses into something heavy, strange and singular in character.

“We’ll take on anything. We’re not afraid to let any genre influence us. Some of these songs are inspired by the most random things, but they still end up sounding like us,” says guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist Travis Ferguson.

Formed by Ferguson alongside drummer Shane Fisher and bassist/vocalist John Hetherington, Veradas build their songs through long basement jams, gradually shaping them into tightly arranged psychedelic eruptions. Their debut album, Universal Relays, channels modern unease through ten tracks of sludgy guitars, primal rhythms, interlocking vocals and cathartic hooks.

“I write about making sense of life in a world that seems to constantly make it hard for you. Why does this device [cellphone] cause so many problems? But in the 1930s, the big issue was everyone staring down at their newspapers. Before that, the Egyptians used to say writing would ruin people’s memories. It’s all a distraction to ruin truth and obscure meaning,” Ferguson says.

Wolf Creek finds the record at its most threatening. Serrated fuzz and raw vocals creep through an ominous portrait of small-town isolation, carrying a backwoods dread. It is tense and grimy, introducing Veradas as a band willing to follow an idea wherever it leads.

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Upcoming Shows
July 23rd // Seattle, WA // Chop Suey

Veradas