Deafheaven

Deafheaven emerged from San Francisco in 2010, quickly establishing themselves as a distinctive voice in contemporary music. Initially a duo comprising vocalist George Clarke and guitarist Kerry McCoy, the band's sonic identity began to take shape with a self-released demo. This early work showcased a potent blend of black metal and post-rock, hinting at the genre-defying approach that would come to define their career.

Formed in February 2010, Clarke and McCoy, who had prior experience in a grindcore band, recorded their initial demo at Atomic Garden Studios in April of the same year. The four-track release, distributed on cassette and digitally, garnered positive attention, leading the duo to recruit additional musicians. Bassist Derek Prine, guitarist Nick Bassett (also of Whirr and Nothing), and drummer Trevor Deschryver completed the lineup, and the band began performing live in July 2010. By the end of that year, Deafheaven signed with Deathwish Inc., which released their debut album, Roads to Judah, in April 2011. The album solidified their unique style, weaving together elements of black metal, shoegaze, and post-rock.