Savage Lands Release “Out of Breath” featuring Lord Of The Lost and Chloe Trujillo
Raise your horns in support of the metal non-profit
100% of royalties support preservation projects
New album features members of Arch Enemy, Megadeth, Obituary, Sepultura and Heilung
“What Savage Lands is doing is fantastic” – Dr. Jane Goodall
“Savage Lands is helping preserve nature’s treasures” – Shane Embury
As Savage Lands prove on their breathtaking new single, metalheads aren’t ones to back down from a fight. After witnessing how land developers are tearing down Costa Rica’s rain forest, Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren and his old guitarist Sylvain Demercastel decided they weren’t going to sit around and rust in peace. In 2022, they started Savage Lands, the music industry’s first artist-run environmental non-profit.
Using the money that’s generated by their music, Savage Lands has preserved 100,000 square feet of Costa Rican rain forest. 100% of the royalties from the organization’s star-studded album, Army of the Trees, support their ongoing preservation projects in Costa Rica and other countries. But as they warn on their crushing new single with Lord Of The Lost and Chloe Trujillo, if we don’t act fast and protect our ecosystems, then pretty soon, we won’t just be out of time. We’ll be out of breath.
Army of the Trees comes out February 15, 2025 on Season of Mist.
Pre-order & Pre-save https://orcd.co/savagelandsarmyofthetrees
Savage Lands’ roots run deep. Dirk and Sylvain first met in France during the late ’90s, when they both played in the socially conscious thrash metal band Artsonic. Even when their respective careers diverged, the two remained bonded by their joint passion for savage heavy metal and wildlife preservation. Upon reuniting some 30 years later at LA’s Daufembach Studio, “Out of Breath” was one of the first songs that they wrote for Army of the Trees . The album’s second single is also one of the heaviest, but the knots along its branches help define their organization’s sonic footprint.
“By nature, Savage Lands isn’t limited to one genre”, Dirk says, “but ‘Out of Breath’ speaks to all our core elements”.
Just take one listen to the chest-pounding double bass kicks on “Out of Breath” and any supporter of heavy metal will know that’s Dirk behind the kit. His swiveling left foot keeps the song firmly in the pocket. But while Sylvaine’s chiseled riffs cut straight to the point, it’s the layers of melodic dissonance that capture the lingering anxieties over the fate of our planet. “I love headbanging to heavy metal”, Sylvain says with a knowing smile, “but I’m also a very nostalgic person. There’s a melancholic atmosphere to this song that reflects how both the Earth and our relationships change as time passes”.
It’s true; not even the most immortal of metal legends could withstand the fall of father time. But through the spirit of collaboration, Savage Lands are helping preserve our future. On the ground, the organization partners with scientists, forest engineers, ecological parks, private businesses and non-profits like the Jane Goodall Institute. They’ve also banded together with movers and shakers from around the metal sphere. Shane Embury (Napalm Death), Billy Graziadei (Biohazard), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) and many more familiar faces joined Savage Lands on the main stage at this year’s Hellfest. The world-renowned French festival will donate 1 million Euro to the organization over the next five years.
“Out of Breath” marks the first time that Lord Of The Lost and Savage Lands have appeared together on a record, but the Eurovision darlings are one of the organization’s earliest supporters. “When Sylvain Demercastel and Dirk Verbeuren introduced us to Savage Lands at Hellfest in 2023, we instantly saw the passion and necessity behind this endeavor and were absolutely thrilled by the opportunity”, says Chris Harms and Pi Stoffers from Lord Of The Lost. “Music can not only offer a refuge to every single person on this earth, but it can be used as a sanctuary for the existential nature around us”.
The video tones down the glam and glitter with its dystopian footage, but Harms screams with bloody conviction alongside the explosive wails of Black Bomb A and Savage Lands vocalist Poun. “We loved writing this song, as it was yet again another stylistic facet that we haven’t necessarily touched already”, Lord Of The Lost continues. The song’s bridge craters under the cavernous weight of Harms’ death growls. “We’re left for dead”.
But not all hope is lost. From the ashes of Stoffers’ smoldering solo alights a familiar voice. “Look at the sky“, beckons Chloe Trujillo, who reprises her mystic role from earlier single “Black Rock Heart”. “A place to breath / People and trees“. It’s a chilling reminder of all we stand to lose.
“Our goals are attainable,” Sylvain and Dirk say. “By converting the land that we purchase into nature sanctuaries, Savage Lands will help set a precedent for environmental activism. But we must work together and quickly. Ecosystems are still under attack. If we don’t, then there won’t be any wildlife left to save”.Raise your horns and join the Army of the Trees in support of the metal non-profit.
Just listening to “Out of Breath” helps support Savage Lands. 100% of the song’s royalties fund the musician-run non-profit’s preservation efforts.
The CD Digisleeve for Army of the Trees is made from eco paper, while the LP is pressed on BioVinyl.
Learn more about Savage Lands
https://savagelands.org/
Donate
https://savagelands.org/donation/
The video for Out of Breath was created by Brewster. Dirk’s drum footage was provided by Drumeo. The live footage of Lord Of The Lost was provided by Lennard Schmitt, while the live footage of Savage Lands was filmed at Hellfest 2024 by Cornoss and Sombrero & Co. – Réal Bui Lê Quang.
Tracklist
1. Black Rock Heart (feat Kai Uwe Faust) (4:36) [WATCH]
2. Ruling Queen (featuring Alissa White-Gluz) (4:31)
3. The Last Howl (featuring John Tardy, Andreas Kisser) (6:04) [WATCH]
4. No Remedy (featuring Maria Franz) (4:27) [WATCH]
5. Out of Breath (featuring Lord Of The Lost) (4:49) [WATCH]
6. Better Man (4:23)
7. Never Be Up (3:42)
8. Army of the Trees (4:26) [WATCH]
9. Visions of Life (4:02)
10. Addicted (4:45)
Genre: Environmental Metal
FFO: Protecting the environment
Having seen first-hand how deforestation threatens Costa Rica’s rain forest, two angry metalheads are banging their heads together to protect the world’s ecosystem.
“After hearing the chainsaws on a daily basis, we knew it was time to act”, says musician-turned-activist Sylvain Demercastel, “because the buzzing is only getting louder”.
Sylvain founded Savage Lands with his long-time friend and Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren in 2022. Thanks to their music, the 501 (c) (3) non-profit has preserved 100,000 square feet of forest in high-risk areas along the Costa Rican coastline. 100% of the royalties from their first album, Army of the Trees, support their ongoing preservation projects in Costa Rica and other countries.
The roots behind Savage Lands run deep. Dirk and Sylvain first met in France during the late ‘90s, when they both played in the socially conscious thrash metal band Artsonic. But just like a tree, the organization is supported by different types of branches.
“As a non-profit, we depend on the support of other organizations, fellow artists and our listeners”, Dirk says.
In Costa Rica, Savage Lands partners with scientists, forest engineers, ecological parks, private businesses and other non-profits. Their Green Alliance (Alianza Verde) has led to more than 11,000 trees being planted in deforested areas throughout Costa Rica thanks to the help of 1,200 volunteers.
“What Savage Lands is doing is fantastic,” says Dr. Jane Goodall, whose global institute is partnering with the metal non-profit’s European branch on preservation projects in France and Africa. “Nature is music. Trees have music, but when we lose species after species, our ecosystem collapses. Savage Lands are using their music to support projects that promote biodiversity, which will help make the world better for future generations”.
Collaboration also fuels the creative fires of Savage Lands. The core band includes Poun and Etienne Treton from the veteran French metalcore band Black Bomb A, along with Loco Muerte’s Florian Pons. When they planted their ecological flag on Hellfest’s main stage in 2024, movers and shakers from across the metal sphere showed up to support. Not only did the festival leader pledge to donate 1 million Euro to the organizations over the next five years. Daniel de Jongh (Textures), Silje Wergeland (The Gathering), Jesper Liveröd (Nasum), Alejandro Montoya (Cultura tres), Vincent Price (Body Count), Billy Graziadei (Biohazard), Shane Embury (Napalm Death) and Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) all joined for an appropriately bloody and scream-worthy rendition of “Roots”.
“I’m happy to be a part of such a truly important cause”, Embury said after the performance. “We are connected with every living thing on this planet and Savage Lands is helping to preserve nature’s treasures”.
Army of the Trees features even more metallic fire power. Out of the sludgy distortion that spews from “The Last Howl” crawls Obituary’s John Tardy, who pays a fitting tribute to the endangered Howler monkey by unleashing his inner primate with spit-flinging growls. “Black Rock Heart” carves out a wickedly blackened groove, though the song’s aggressive chug is fueled by more spiritual concerns. “We wanted the music to reflect our mounting frustration with the way the real estate heat wave is destroying Costa Rica’s ecosystem”, Sylvain says. “For so long, nature has been trying to warn us that we’re putting our future at risk”. Who else could represent the magical spirit of the forest but visionary artist Chloé Trujillo and Heilung’s chief of ceremonies Kai Uwe Faust.
Heilung are also working with Savage Lands outside of the recording studio. The world-famous Nordic collective donated $1 for every ticket sold during their most-recent U.S. tour to support their Season of Mist labelmates. “Supporting Savage Lands was an easy decision for us”, says Maria Franz, whose soothing high notes grace the melancholic power ballad “No Remedy”.
“That’s another beautiful thing about Savage Lands”, Sylvain says. “As a band, we’re not limited to just one genre. We can adapt to boost the strengths of whomever is joining us”.
Savage Lands’ debut album introduces several new species of metalhead to their ecosystem. Eurovision’s darlings Lord Of The Lost spill their blood and glitter over the spiky riffs that puncture “Out of Breath”. Holding court over lead single “Ruling Queen” with her serpentine cleans and lioness roar is none other than Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz. “Now is the time to take a stand”, the band roar in a fierce rallying cry during the album’s climactic title track, backed by Julien Truchan from Benighted and other pillars from the French metal community.
“Our goals are attainable,” Sylvain and Dirk say. “By converting the land that we purchase into nature sanctuaries, Savage Lands will help set a precedent for environmental activism. But we must work together and quickly. Ecosystems are still under attack. If we don’t, then there won’t be any wildlife left to save”.
Raise your horns and join the Army of the Trees in support of the metal non-profit.
Learn more about Savage Lands
https://savagelands.org/
Donate
https://savagelands.org/donation/
Core lineup
Poun – vocals
Sylvain Demercastel – guitars
Etienne Treton – Bass
Florian Pons – drums
Special member
Dirk Verbeuren (Drums on “Black Rock Heart”, “The Last Howl” and “Out of Breath)
Collaborators
Stephane Buriez
Ardag Basmadjian
HK Nico + James at Vamacara
Guest features
Kai Uwe Faust – Vocals (Black Rock Heart)
Chloe Trujillo – Vocals (Black Rock Heart, Out of Breath)
Alissa White-Gluz – Vocals (Ruling Queen)
Kenneth Andrews – Guitar (Ruling Queen)
Andreas Kisser – Guitar (The Last Howl)
John Tardy – Vocals (The Last Howl)
Maria Franz – Vocals (No Remedy)
Lord Of The Lost – Vocals, Guitars (Out of Breath)
*Army of Trees features Steeven Corsini (Loco Muerte), Auré Jäger (Akiavel), David & Viber (Sidilarsen), Niko Jones (Tagada Jones), Julien Truchan (Benighted), Stéphane Buriez (Loudblast, Sinsaenum), Nils Courbaron (Bloodorn, Sirenia, DDC) and Aurelien Ouzoulias (The Beat Factory, Mörglbl).
Production
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Adair Daufembach at Daufembach Studio in Los Angeles.
Cover artist
Brewster Agency
Photographer
Gornos
Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/savagelandsarmyofthetrees
Available Formats
Digital Download
CD Digisleeve
12″ BioVinyl (Gatefold)
Follow Savage Lands
Official Website: https://savagelands.org/
Bandcamp: https://savagelands.bandcamp.com/album/army-of-the-trees
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/savage-lands/1712738479
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5fft5SyNYhNar3PdYtKQSF
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/p/Savage-Lands-100081754354224/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savagelands_project/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savagelands9644
