Band Deschain to open at Bishop

Progressive black metal band Deschain will debut its new album, “Grit Part I: Vigilance,” live Saturday at the Bishop Bar.

The band’s frontman, Bryce Marley, was central to organizing the show, which Deschain will headline.

“We did our last CD show with them,” Marley said about the Bishop. “We had a really good turnout.”

Eschatos and Lawbringer, also metal bands, will open the show. Marley said his band saw Eschatos play in Kentucky, the band’s home base.

“They played a killer set,” he said. “So, we asked them to play with us after that.”

Following the two opening bands, Deschain will play its new album in its entirety. The album, which is just more than 36 minutes of recorded genre-blending music, will be sold at the show, but only cash will be accepted.

Deschain was formed in Kokomo. When it moved to Bloomington with Marley and a former bandmate, the band chose to take a media angle to appeal to its audience, rather than touring.

“We have decided to be active by writing new material, and constantly having it out there for people to listen to online,” Marley said. “Most of our fan base is in the Ukraine.”

Marley described his band’s lyrics as a fiction story.

“Grit Part I: Vigilance,” is part of a trilogy that takes place in the American West. The band is currently recording the second edition to this trilogy.

“It is about an elderly law man who has to come to terms with choosing to be the sum of his actions, or the sum of his ideals,” Marley said.

Marley was inspired by Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” series when naming his band.

Although none of its music has directly described events from these books, the band chose this name to honor the story, which influenced its lyrical storytelling style.

Deschain’s newest album was its first released through a record label, Razed Soul Productions, which is based in Minnesota. Adam Fisk, who performs with Deschain, said the new album has been generating attention.

The album can be purchased on the band’s website, deschainmetal.bandcamp.com.

The band also has an up-to-date Facebook page for its fans.

Patrick Vollmer said since joining Deschain about a year and a half ago, his skills as a guitarist have improved. He said the band has motivated him to learn how to play faster, more complicated music.

“We have always tried to write music that is both fun and challenging to play,” Reed said. “I think we have reached that point where we can expand our sound into new territory.”

Dean Reed, another member of Deschain, said this is one of the band’s last performances in Bloomington. Several of the band members are moving, but Marley said the band plans to continue recording albums regardless.

“It will be a show to remember,” Fisk said, “It should be an exciting event for Bloomington music lovers and Bishop regulars.”