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Scott William “SW” Hedrick, best known as the guitarist and founding member of the blackened thrash metal band Skeletonwitch, has long made a name for himself through relentless touring and the band’s deep influence on the metal world. Skeletonwitch has masterfully weaved through various metal sub-genres, though their music has always been rooted in melody.

Now, Hedrick is stepping out on his own with a solo project under the moniker SW Hedrick. His debut album, Devotional Drift Vol. 1, will be released on November 1 via his personal label, Red Left Hand. Moving away from his metal roots, this new project dives into psych-influenced kraut rock and ambient instrumental music, drawing inspiration from the likes of Popol Vuh, Can, Pharoah Sanders, and Alice Coltrane.

Reflecting on his shift in musical direction, Hedrick shared an anecdote: “I remember being alone in Skeletonwitch‘s dressing room in France and playing Pharoah Sanders on our Bluetooth speaker once. One of my bandmates walked in, looked at me with an annoyed look, and asked, ‘Is this dude just going to skronk on that saxophone for 5 minutes?’ ‘No, of course not,’ I said in all seriousness. More like twenty-five minutes.”

The album’s first single is a song titled “E Major”, built around simple repetition. Discussing the song Hedrick said: “I’m interested in the basic utility of music as well as its fantastical ability to transport. ‘E Major’ is a tranquil trip that slowly evolves into an outer space choogle, passes through 1970s Deutschland, and lands at a Sunday morning rave-up. Go to the moon, or just go to the supermarket. Either way, I’m delighted if I can help you get there.”

While he has enjoyed the collaborations of all his past musical endeavors, Hedrick is excited to release solo music for the first time. “It’s liberating to be the final arbiter of this material. It’s a first for me to create such a direct pathway from my own ideas and idiosyncrasies to the outside world. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the utility of music; I’m always using music for different purposes. Something as simple as entertainment and distraction or as lofty as meditation and spiritual development. I take great pleasure in the notion that someone else may find utility in my music as well.”

Pre-order Devotional Drift Vol. 1 here.

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