Essex natives BEYOND EXTINCTION are one of the most exciting bands in UK deathcore right now and, today, they’re using their platform to shed light on the dark history that bleeds into the streets of their very own doorstep. Brand new single ‘Witchfinder‘ tackles the often overlooked truth of one of human history’s most devious eras, with Essex’s role in the religiously-fuelled witch hunts of the 1600’s outnumbering the infamous and more globally publicised Salem witch trials, at a staggering 25 < 300+.
It is almost impossible to find a corner of the county of Essex untouched by the terror which scythed down women across our county with horrific efficacy. Paying homage to this backbone in the history of BEYOND EXTINCTION‘s home county, ‘Witchfinder‘ is a declaration that ‘Essex Death’ is not a surface-level tagline. Low, slow and oppressive to the last note and word, the story of hundreds of our people killed in cold blood is now told in double-drop tuning. The music video was recorded at historically vital locations, notably the ducking pond of Mistley village, which hosted the public drownings of multiple women at the time.
On the inspiration of the new track, vocalist Jasper Harmer explains:
“‘Witchfinder’ is a track that holds a very important connection between the evil music we make and the evil place we come from. Learning about the depth of the witch hunts in the history of our home county of Essex was a fascinating but disturbing privilege and filming on location at some powerful spots made this a very unique single to create. I feel that reading on the exploitation of our county by fear mongering, mob mentality and cultural misogyny of the time has opened my eyes to a lot of comparatives in contemporary society as the beast of misinformation rears its ugly head all around us. We are proud to call this county our home, and we are always impressed by its rich and vital lineage in some of the most harrowing stories imaginable. ‘Witchfinder’ is your doorway into the terrifying history of the place we call home. “
Last week, BEYOND EXTINCTION announced they’d be bridging the gap between Essex and Canada, with a UK co-headline run alongside the aptly named Canadian exports, SALEM TRIALS. From live shows with the biggest names in the genre (Humanity’s Last Breath, Signs of the Swarm, Brand of Sacrifice + more) to releases tallying hundreds of thousands of streams, these two acts push the boundary of how low, slow and vile deathcore can truly get. In March 2027 the UK will be the site of 10 shows brimming with ferocity and live energy, with co-headline sets from each band that will throttle audiences nationwide. New music from both groups will be showcased on stages across Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Chesterfield, Stoke On Trent, Essex, Bournemouth, Bristol, London, and Brighton.
TOUR DATES FOR AUTUMN 2026 AND MARCH 2027 ON-SALE NOW
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