| Unearthly Trance | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Long Island, New York |
| Genre: | Sludge metal, doom metal |
| Years Active: | 2000–2012, 2015-present |
| Label: | Rise Above, Southern Lord, Relapse |
| Associated Acts: | The Howling Wind, Pollution, Thralldom, Abandoner, Serpentine Path |
| Current Members: | Ryan Lipynsky Darren Verni Jay Newman |
| Past Members: | Jeremy Curles Pete McCoil Aiden Rockwell |
Unearthly Trance is a sludge metal/doom metal trio from Long Island composed of guitarist-vocalist Ryan Lipynsky, bassist Jay Newman, and drummer Darren Verni. They were formed in 2000 and have released material on leading labels of the genre like Southern Lord, Rise Above Records and Relapse Records to which they are still signed today. They are also considered by critics one of the leading acts in the doom metal scene and shared tours with notable bands such as Sunn O))), Pelican, Electric Wizard, The Melvins and Morbid Angel. Their fifth album, V, was released by Relapse Records on September 27, 2011,[1] and was produced by Sanford Parker, leader of fellow Relapse label mates and post-metal experimentalists Minsk. Ryan Lipynsky also fronts the black metal act The Howling Wind and experimental hardcore unit Pollution. All three members played in Serpentine Path with Tim Bagshaw, formerly of Electric Wizard and Ramesses.
Unearthly Trance broke up on July 6, 2012.[2] The band announced their reunion in spring 2015. They headed back to the studio and released Stalking The Ghost in 2017, followed by a EU tour with Suma.
Although categorised as doom metal, Unearthly Trance's music draws inspiration from other forms of extreme music, such as black metal, death metal, crust punk and drone music. Their songs are usually quite long, past the five-minute mark and build slowly and oppressively with pounding drums and slow, loud and distorted guitars and bass buried under thick layers of feedback. The vocals are usually very harsh under the form of distorted screams, and the lyrics usually deal with themes of the occult. Unearthly Trance also ventures into more experimental sounds from time to time like ambient and noise music, giving their music a more introspective, dark and progressive vibe.