For years, Mike Spreitzer has been best known as the guitarist of groove-metal stalwarts DevilDriver. Now, he's entering the role of frontman.
Spreitzer has launched a new band called Verona on Venus in which he aims to explore his lifelong love of industrial metal and goth rock. The project's debut album, Popular Delusions, is out at the top of next year, and today (December 1st), we're premiering the first-ever Verona on Venus song, "Rodent."
It's an eerie, atmospheric industrial track with huge, crunching riffs and an absolutely terrifying music video directed by Vicente Cordero. Watch and listen above via YouTube.
"There's a dark and unruly side of music that has been lost," Spreitzer commented. "It's time to re-discover, re-emerge, and remind people that the uncomfortable and unsettling should not be forgotten.
"The bands, musicians, and devoted fans of metal and all its sub-genres were the pioneers of weird and creepy, and this is what makes this culture incredibly unique in a world of normalcy. Writing this album was my personal testament that I can push myself to limits I always knew existed both musically and creatively.
"This album wasn't so much a discovery of myself but more so a confirmation that I could go to a place within myself that was buried. I finally pushed myself to uncover this side of me."
Popular Delusions is due out January 19th, and boasts a nine-song tracklist that includes a cover of Acid Bath's "The Bones of Baby Dolls."
Listen to "Rodent" on streaming services here.
