Those Darn Gnomes

Since their formation in 2013, Those Darn Gnomes have blurred the lines between noise, metal and free jazz. The group formed initially with the lineup of Mark Steuer (vocals), Christian Molenaar (guitar/flute), Russell Case (bass) and Bryon Wojciechowski (drums), releasing their debut album The Years independently in 2015. The band followed up with their second full-length, The Zodiac, in 2016. While their debut more heavily emphasized the band’s roots in avant-garde metal and hardcore, The Zodiac stripped away any pretense of being a metal band in favor of a new, even more aggressive sound incorporating further elements of free improvisation and harsh noise. The band released a fully improvised single-track EP, Peeling, as a limited cassette in 2017, before playing shows throughout North America with like-minded experimental acts such as Ehnahre, Sult, Hypnagogue, Dischordia and many more.

Calling Whitetails to a Tuned Bow is Those Darn Gnomes’ first release for Nefarious Industries and sees a further expansion and refinement of the band’s sprawling, genre-defying sound. On Calling Whitetails to a Tuned Bow, Those Darn Gnomes explore the outer reaches of progressive metal, free improvisation and avant-garde sound design through the incorporation of algorithmic compositional techniques derived from mold cultivation, homemade instruments and a greater focus on abrasive weirdness.