Leviathan (musical project)

Leviathan is an American black metal solo project that started in 1998 by Jef Whitehead under the pseudonym Wrest. On all Leviathan albums, Wrest records and performs vocals on his own. Despite having early problems with the release of Massive Conspiracy Against All Life, it was released March 24, 2008 in Europe and March 25, 2008 in North America. Additionally, Wrest has collaborated with the band Sunn O))), and was an active member of the U.S. black metal supergroup Twilight from its formation until it disbanded in 2014. He has stated in interviews that he has been playing drums longer than any other instrument and that the drums are his instrument of choice. Wrest also played and recorded everything in his other project, Lurker of Chalice, which released two demos and one full length album in 2005 before dissolving that project. Whitehead also writes all the lyrics for Leviathan but has recognized that "I don't consider myself a poet, by any means."[1]

This article is about the ambient black metal band. For the death metal band, see Chris Barnes (musician).
Leviathan
OriginSan Francisco, California, United States
GenresBlack metal, dark ambient
Years active1998-present
LabelsMoribund Cult
Profound Lore Records
Associated actsLurker of Chalice
Twilight
Website
MembersJef Whitehead

Whitehead briefly ended Leviathan after the release of his fourth album Massive Conspiracy Against All Life in 2008, allegedly due to a legal struggle between himself and Moribund Records. Due to these issues, Wrest felt as though the project had no future.

Whitehead was arrested on January 9, 2011 on charges of sexual assault and domestic violence. Wrest has confirmed in an interview,[2] that the events surrounding his arrest and the accuser have inspired the music and theme of True Traitor, True Whore which was released through Profound Lore Records after Wrest signed with them in August, 2011 along with the announcement that he had revived Leviathan. Faced with six charges stemming from the incident, Wrest maintained his innocence and took the case to trial. In May 2012, Wrest was found not guilty of all charges except for one count of aggravated domestic battery.[3]

Leviathan's latest album, Scar Sighted was released on 3 March, 2015 on Profound Lore Records.[4] In 2018, Whitehead revealed that he was working on the seventh Leviathan record and it would be titled Die to This, however due to issues with his former store Devout Records, the album's recording was indefinitely postponed.[5]

Discography

Studio albums and extended plays

Split releases
  • 2003 - Live In Eternal Sin / The Speed of Darkness (split with Iuvenes) (released independently as The Speed of Darkness)
  • 2004 - Leviathan & Crebain (split with Crebain)
  • 2004 - Black Metal Against the World (split with Ad Hominem, Funeral Winds and Eternity)
  • 2004 - Leviathan & Xasthur (split with Xasthur)
  • 2005 - Portrait in Scars (split with Blackdeath)
  • 2006 - Leviathan & Sapthuran (split with Sapthuran) (released independently as The Blind Wound)
  • 2009 - Sic Luceat Lux (split with Acherontas)
  • 2014 - Leviathan / Krieg (split with Krieg)
  • 2018 - In the Valley of Death, Where Black Metal Is King (split with Nachtmystium, digital release)
  • 2018 - Crawl / Leviathan (split with Crawl)

Demos
  • 1998 - Time End
  • 1998 - Three
  • 2000 - MisanthropicNecroBlasphemy
  • 2000 - Five
  • 2000 - Shadows of No Light
  • 2000 - Slaveship (Seven)
  • 2000 - Video Brolo (Eight)
  • 2001 - Inclement Derision (Nine)
  • 2001 - Ten
  • 2001 - Intolerance (Eleven)
  • 2001 - Howl Mockery at the Cross
  • 2001 - Sacrifice Love at the Altar of War
  • 2002 - White Devil, Black Metal
  • 2002 - XV
  • 2002 - The 10th Sub Level of Suicide

Compilation albums
  • 2002 - Verräter (2 CDs)
  • 2005 - Demos Two Thousand
  • 2005 - Howl Mockery at the Cross
  • 2016 - Leviathan (5 CD boxed set)
  • 2017 - The First Sublevel Of Suicide
  • 2018 - Unfailing Fall Into Naught

Other appearances
  • 2005 - "Hissing and Sullen" on Destroyers From The Western Skies: As Night Devours The Sun
  • 2007 - "My War" on Within the Church of Thee Overlords
  • 2015 - "My War" Flexi-disc single

Lineup
  • Wrest (Jef Whitehead) – all instruments, vocals (Twilight, Lurker of Chalice, Nachtmystium, GiftHorse,[6] Steeltoes,[7] GASM)

References
  1. "www.metal-only.com". Web.archive.org. January 20, 2009.
  2. "Leviathan Breaks His Silence". Pitchfork.com.
  3. "Leviathan's Jef Whitehead Sentenced To Two Years Probation". June 21, 2012.
  4. "TwitLonger — When you talk too much for Twitter". Twitlonger.com.
  5. "Leviathan interview". July 18, 2018.
  6. "GIFTHORSE SF 1991-1996". Saucefaucet.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  7. "Steeltoes | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
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