DEGENERATOR (ft. members All Else Fails, ex-Striker) Continues Its Fusion Experiment With “Neurotonic”
Degenerator is an aggressive musical powerhouse based in Edmonton, Alberta, that combines the genres of post-grunge, stoner rock, and doom into a captivating and relentless fusion. Comprised of two musicians, Barrett Klesko and Jonathan Webster who have already garnered intonation musical acclaim they are demonstrating their musical prowess in their debut album The Abyssal Throne. The second single “Neurotonic” takes heavy music fans deep into a unique and intriguing soundscape full of fresh energy and innovation. Klesko comments:
“Loss haunts our hearts. We must cherish our loved ones. Before they are gone. I always strive for stirring emotion, while revealing a glimpse of a mystical hidden depth. This music came from investigations of my connection with both the material and ethereal worlds, and I hope this ignites a similar reflection in others.”
The Abyssal Throne captures the spirit of the ’90s and ’00s goth and grunge while infusing fresh energy and innovation. The album takes listeners on a rollercoaster of emotions, navigating intricate and progressive time signatures, and balancing thunderous, distorted riffs with intricate melodies that seamlessly intertwine. Each song becomes an adrenaline-fueled journey, inviting listeners to surrender to the primal depths of their own emotions.
The project began as a trial, with Klesko reaching out to his friend Webster, with whom he had previously played in The Order of Chaos. The album started to take shape as Klesko composed rough drum tracks provided by Webster. What began as an experiment evolved into something entirely unique, distinct from its source material. It is recommended for fans of Baroness, Torche, Smashing Pumpkins, and Sound Garden.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hey, I’m Barrett Klesko, the vocalist and guitarist of Degenerator, an alt/stoner metal recording act from Edmonton. As a duo, we are creating heavy, groovy, and melodic songs that explore human existence through the lens of mental suffering, overcoming the normalized societal oppression caused by ruthless capitalism, and finding hope in the darkest of times.
Tell us a bit about your most recent release.
Our first release is The Abyssal Throne, which came out on November 24th, 2023. It’s an album that features 11 songs that pull influences from 90s grunge and goth metal, modern stoner rock, and incorporates progressive elements like unusual time signatures and asymmetrical songwriting. We wanted to make an album that pushes the boundaries of our genre and showcases our musical diversity.
Do you have any upcoming shows you’d like to tell us about?
Currently, we are a studio recording project only, but I won’t rule out the possibility of live performances in the future.
If given the chance, which Canadian artist would you love to work with in the future?
That’s a hard question, there are so many great Canadian artists out there. But if we had to choose one, we’d probably say Devin Townsend. We admire his creativity and versatility, and we think we’d have a lot of fun working with him.
What’s your goal for 2024?
Our goal for 2024 is to keep making music that we love and that our fans love. We also want to reach more people and share our message and vision with them. I have already started thinking about the follow-up to The Abyssal Throne, but I hope people take the time to absorb and enjoy this album, so we won’t rush anything else out right away.
Connect with Degenerator:
Bandcamp