Negative Wall Reveal Doom Inspired by The Outer Limits

I’ve been really looking forward to introducing you to this new project from Tommy Stewart of Dyerwulf. Last month, I mentioned in my Moonwatcher debut that I was delighted that more bands are finding inspiration behind the unfortunately hackneyed world of wizards, witches, and weed, moving closer to realms of science fiction and horror – in particular, the great movies and television shows of the 1950s, ‘60s, and '70s. I remember watching strange programs with my dad as a kid in the '80s, many of which I’m still trying to track down (including one clip that is forever engraved in my memory bank of a group of people who were cursing God for letting them live forever and demanding that he let them die. If anyone can help, I would be forever grateful). Among them: Dr. Who (featuring Tom Baker), The Twilight Zone, and an especially gripping weekly serial called The Outer Limits. It was, in my mind, the superior sci-fi/horror production of its age.

All that set-up is to introduce you to NEGATIVE WALL, a band immersed in the potent world of the ABC series that ran from 1963 to 1965, later revived from 1995 to 2000. In my mind, the original black and white was more stark and terrifying than its later iterations, but that’s another discussion for another time. You don’t even need to be familiar with The Outer Limits to get into 'Gammagelu’ (2019), the forthcoming debut from the Atlanta band, featuring alumni from Hallows Eve, Bludy Gyres, and the aforementioned Dyerwulf.

Negative Wall describe their sound as “a sci-fi doom voyage through '70s inspired stoner music scapes and blues riffs from this battle scarred line-up of musicians you’ve probably heard on many metal recordings.” That line-up includes frontman Tommy Stewart (bass, organ, vox), Don Cole (guitar), and Dennis Reid (drums, keyboard). They also like to spice up the ambience with exotic instruments like the Theremin and didgeridoo.

Having already released the first single from Gammagelu, the band today brings us its second: “Imperii Exsules,” here featured as a music video from one of their live performances. Reached for comment on the song, Tommy Stewart remarked:

“Imperii Exsules means the exiled imperials. This song is influenced by our love of the sixties TV show Outer Limits, particularly the episode entitled The Zanti Misfits. The different take on it from the TV episode is the lyrics are written from the point of view of those who executed the exile from the planet of Zantis.”

Look for the album’s full release on February 8, 2019 on Black Doomba Records, already available for pre-order here.

Give ear…