Fan Poll: Top 5 Whitechapel Songs | Revolver

Fan Poll: Top 5 Whitechapel Songs

See what beat out "Possession" and "Hickory Creek" for No. 1
Whitechapel's Phil Bozeman Live 2017 Getty, Miikka Skaffari/FilmMagic
Whitechapel's Phil Bozeman
photograph by Miikka Skaffari/FilmMagic

Revolver has teamed with Whitechapel for an exclusive splatter vinyl variant of their new album, Kin. It's limited to 500 copies — order yours before they're gone!

Whitechapel are survivors. While many bands from deathcore's pioneering years have either been plagued by lineup changes, put out increasingly spotty albums or have simply called it quits by now, the Knoxville, Tennessee, unit fronted by the beastly Phil Bozeman have not only grown with the genre, but pushed it forward in multiple respects — chiefly, their recent embrace of clean vocals that almost none of their peers could pull off with the grace that they have.

The band are an institution by now, and in honor of them announcing their next album, Kin, and dropping an explosive new song called "Lost Boy" last week, we asked our fans to choose their favorite Whitechapel song. The votes came in all over the map, and the top picks are ranked accordingly below.

5. "Possession"

"Possession," a crusher from Whitechapel's 2008 breakout, This is Exile, is a quintessential relic of first-wave deathcore. Its mid-tempo groove is a bit different compared to some of the other songs on the album, which is maybe why it's stuck with fans all these years later. Blast beats galore, bone-snapping breakdowns and Bozeman's earth-shattering chant of the phrase, "We. Are. The Disease," make this a clear highlight.

4. "I, Dementia"

One of the more underrated aspects of Whitechapel is how goddamn catchy they are. "I, Dementia" is a standout from their 2012 self-titled album that worms its way into your noggin after the first round of Bozeman growling the words, "I am dementia in your mind," over a hypnotic, djenty chug. As the initial wave of hype around deathcore receded and it became clear which bands would carry the genre into its next iteration, songs like these are what made Whitechapel leaders.

3. "When a Demon Defiles a Witch"

Most bands who are 15 years into their careers put out new material that's tepidly received by fans who really just want to hear the old stuff — but Whitechapel are different. The band have seven well-regarded albums under their belts, and many fans consider their 2019 opus,The Valley, to be one of their finest achievements. "When a Demon Defiles a Witch" incorporated vulnerable clean vocals into their sound — a huge risk in the deathcore world — and nailed an effortless balance with the detonating heavy parts.

2. "Hickory Creek"

"Hickory Creek" is another song from The Valley that Whitechapel fans fucking love. Beginning with eerie clean guitars and Bozeman's smoky croon, the frontman eventually takes off into a full-on belt during the hook — but even the twirling climax is absent of any traditional "deathcore" parts. Whitechapel have spent years earning the respect of their fans by putting out non-stop quality releases, which has made people more receptive to bold moves like the ones on "Hickory Creek," which opens a whole other world of sonic possibilities.

1. "The Saw Is the Law"

Whitechapel's 2014 album, Our Endless War, isn't just a superior deathcore album — it's the only deathcore album to ever crack the top 10 of the Billboard 200. Who knows if the band actually had such a feat in mind when they were writing this thing, but lead single "The Saw Is the Law" reads like Whitechapel sticking their flag in every corner of the metal landscape and claiming it their own. "You are nothing/We are everything," goes its gigantic chant over a back-breaking djent groove, and it's hard to feel anything other than humbled by their presence.