HEALTH have released a series of new multi-media platform content, in anticipation of their upcoming album Vol 4. Slaves of Fear, which is set to be released in few upcoming days. This includes a true crime mystery “webisode,” for the track “Strange Days (1999)” and a new interactive mobile game for the track and webisode.
The webisode serves as a music video for the track which was released toward the end of last year. This music video features the band’s drummer being caught and accused of going on a murderous rampage, and is captured in the style of many popular true crime documentaries.
A clip from the video states “No one knew who was responsible for the murder of this underground rock singer… until an unexpected clue linked the crime to a series of brutal unsolved killings throughout the United States…”” Later on they ask a member if they believe their drummer could get murder, to which the answer “yes,” is heard in response.
This track features many of the noise and thrash elements creating an abrasive sound and atmosphere toward the beginning of the track. In addition the song’s broody atmosphere blends elements of trap and electronic music as well which the band has been utilizing since some of its more recent releases.
An interactive messenger game is also utilized by the band, which is based on Facebook messenger and requires the player to accept to using promotional materials from the band. This allows the player to play as an investigator into the murder played throughout this music video.
This isn’t the first time the band has been involved in interactive media and video games, prior to the release of their album Death Magic, the band worked on soundtracks for Rockstar games Grand Theft Auto V and Max Payne 3.
“That was the most unhealthy period of my life,” former keyboardist Jupiter Keyes elaborated in an interview with DIY Mag. “I was personally obsessed with the project and threw myself into it in a way that compromised my relationships and my physical and mental well-being. I put on weight and had a steady diet of whiskey and pills. It was a function of a lot of personal things going on in my life but I guess you could call it ‘unintentional method scoring’…”
Despite this the band contend’s the game was better because of this and that it made that album better. They also contend that as a company, Rockstar, was a positive client to have and they would look forward to working with them in the future.
“With video games you so much have power. You can do almost anything, you can patch games after they come out. Seeing that was inspiring. It changed how we thought about ‘Death Magic’. Fuck a deadline, we’re not done until we’re satisfied,” the band’s bassist John Famiglietti further explained in the interview.
“When it comes to Rockstar games they are like family. The experience was incredibly gratifying. And we would totally do it again.”
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
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