Introducing Plasmata: Chicago Glampires

Plasmata is a dramatic and electrifying fusion of hard-hitting alternative rock and dark electronica: part goth-industrial/electro-industrial, part Hollywood glam metal and L.A. deathrock, all wrapped up in theatrical “Glampire” aesthetics. The new video, ‘Leviathan’, showcases the lead single from the Chicago band’s forthcoming Portraits of Pain EP, and features a blood-spattered, vampiric performance between model Jaime Ileana, and frontman Trent Jeffries. With the stunning new EP produced by goth rock/deathrock legend William Faith, Plasmata is re-emerging as an exciting new name on the scene, albeit not without a compelling and storied past.

Led by project founder and mainstay Trent Jeffries, the original incarnation of Plasmata formed in Chicago back in 2005, releasing their debut single ‘Lifeblood’ the same year, followed by the Wails from the Crypt EP in 2007. Assembling a talented band of multinational musicians, Plasmata soon had well received live shows, international compilation appearances, college radio airplay, specialist club DJ rotation, and a coveted place in UK music journalist and goth historian Mick Mercer’s book Music to Die For (2009) all under their belt. By 2011, a full album had been recorded, and the band was shopping for a label: all involved were understandably excited. “That is until January 2012,” Trent recalls, “when I was felled by a ruptured brain aneurysm.” He continues:

“A lengthy recovery ensued, and the project disbanded over that time period. I was left with partial memory loss, diminished motor skills, neural deficiency and marked decrease in hand/eye coordination. Persistence and a near decade of physical and emotional struggle brought me to the point where I felt I was finally able to express myself effectively once again. And I felt I had some demons to exorcise.”

A near decade on from Trent’s debilitating aneurysm, the band’s forthcoming EP, Portraits of Pain, deals with that process. The EP was recorded during the lockdown of fall and winter 2020, and has been mixed and produced by William Faith (Faith and the Muse, The Bellwether Syndicate, Christian Death/Shadow Project et al). William says:

“When Trent first reached out to me about producing this EP for him, he sent over a demo of ‘The Vanishing’, and upon hearing it, I recognised all of his references. His musical vocabulary was readily accessible, and I could hear where he was trying to go. I knew I could get him the rest of the way, and it all followed on from that. My favourite part of the process is always the same: the look on someone’s face when what they’re hearing through the monitors meets or exceeds their original vision for the song. That’s what I shoot for every time.”

Meanwhile, Trent has just welcomed new live drummer David Bates and guitarist Marco Obaya to the fold, while a shadowy figure known only as F. Amos Darkling contributes an uncannily familiar bass sound to the new EP. With advance promos already garnering radio airplay throughout the UK, Europe, and both North and South America, the ‘Leviathan’ single and video officially launches on 31 March 2021, with an exclusive premiere courtesy of Rue-Morgue.com, along with EP presales from Bandcamp. The Portraits of Pain EP (CD and digital) will follow two weeks later, on 14 June.

Follow Plasmata online:

www.plasmataband.com 

www.instagram.com/plasmataband 

www.facebook.com/plasmataband

You May Also Like

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.