Crobot have premiered a new video for their new single “Obsidian.” The song, which was co-written by Howard Jones (Light The Torch, ex-Killswitch Engage, etc.), serves as the title track of the band’s new album. That effort will be released on September 13.
Vocalist Brandon Yeagley said the following:
“The ‘Obsidian‘ music video is a performance piece that we shot in this dilapidated house that was built in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania in 1900. The ceiling was coming down, paint was falling off the walls, there’s drywall everywhere that had fallen from the ceiling, the place was just like a snapshot of a 1960’s-something place frozen in time. And there had been a public bar in the house that may have been one of the very first speakeasys in the town, which was where we shot this video.”
Guitarist Chris Bishop continued:
“‘Obsidian‘ was the last song we worked on and we had already decided to have that be the album’s title. We had four different versions of the song, but, especially with the melodies and lyrics, we weren’t completely happy with it.”
Yeagley also commented on working with Jones:
“Howard just ran with it and came back with what is now the final title track. And, it encapsules everything that I wrote about on the record. The lyrics are about reflection, taking on those aspects of who we are that we don’t necessarily like, but are all parts that round us out as people. The lyrics also illustrate what obsidian means to someone who’s a crystal collector, and the symbolism surrounding obsidian.”
He also added the following about the lyrics:
“I had been doing a lot of research on Druids, on Celtic shamans, different types of spirituality. I was born in the country’s coal region and I was raised around anthracite coal.
One day I went out for a walk just beyond my backyard, I’m walking around this tree, and sure as shit, there at my feet is a huge piece of black coal, the size of a softball. When I picked it up, I realized it wasn’t coal, and, as a huge fan of ‘Game of Thrones,’ I thought there was no way this could be dragonglass.
It was several weird things – strange synchronicities that led me to that stone. I took it along with me to Jamaica when the band played Shiprocked, a cruise to Jamaica. That trip started with a tornado during load in, and then the boat was punctured and took on water, all while going through the Bermuda Triangle.
When we got home and went to collect our luggage, the bag with the thousands of dollars worth of camera gear came down the conveyor belt completely open, and then we found out that our van had been struck by lightning. But the obsidian made it through.”
Metal Anarchy 