photo by Fuel Heart Productions; photo courtesy of Stormstress

by Eric Harabadian, Contributing Blogger

Video Review of Stormstress: “Buried You in the Snow”

Stormstress is a hard rock/heavy metal trio, with ties to Boston and Detroit. Mirror image sisters Tanya Venom (guitars/vocals) and Tia Mayhem (bass/vocals), along with Maddie May Scott (drums/vocals) are riding high off the success of their independent release Silver Lining in 2022. This is their first foray into new material since that album, and it presents a perfect balance of raw power and vocally orchestrated bliss. Amid a white background, the band erupts, with a scream and a swath of crunchy guitars, pummeling bass and sparse, meaty drums. Their hair and garb are a mix of black and white, fiery reds, icy blues and extreme face paint that all add to the drama of their message.

“Buried You in the Snow” takes on the demons and situations in life that haunt us, whether that be an addiction, a personal impasse, or just any barrier that stands in the way of you emerging as your best self. The song is all about letting go of that seemingly insurmountable albatross and finally finding vindication and freedom in one’s own skin. Here’s a taste of some of the lyrics that set the scene: “I could feel the bite of winter in the air. Not a single star to shine on my despair. By the candlelight, I drew the 13th card, the Reaper spoke I had to break your heart.” And the second verse really cinches a first person account of the loneliness one feels enmeshed in a problem, with “The bliss in your eyes, faded away… oh! Dusk beckoned while you begged me to stay. But when midnight struck, I made a vow I’ve gotta learn to be strong somehow… alone.” Cut from a similar cloth as Dio, Epica, and Heart, Stormstress delivers a powerful treatise on self-actualization, blended with supernatural and gothic imagery. It’s a combination that truly resonates, via Venom’s superb guitar work and the stunning call and response vocals of counterparts Mayhem and Scott.

photo by Fuel Heart Productions; photo courtesy of Stormstress

The song resolves as Venom’s imagery involving the darkness of night and the shimmering white of snow is culminated this way: “All I could see was shades of white, I swear it was the hardest night, but I let the dark take you away (I had to let you go)… I buried you in the snow… until you were gone!” And with that, mission accomplished in a heart-wrenching and poetic song destined for these modern times.

Kudos go to co-producer/engineer Doug Batchelder of the Den Studios for his masterful and meticulous handling of the delicate frequencies and elegant captures of the band’s multi-dimensional vocals. The overall sonic palette as well as, of course, the song itself is truly a work of art!

photo by Fuel Heart Productions; photo courtesy of Stormstress

Looking Back

You can find the Blog‘s review of Stormstress’ Silver Lining here.

Looking Ahead

Keep an eye on the “Tour” page of Stormstress’ website for upcoming concert data. Currently, it lists two upcoming shows in Provincetown, MA: Friday, July 21st; and Friday, October 13th. The trio just rocked Detroit and Chicago a couple weeks ago – and Provincetown last weekend – so I’m sure more dates will be added to the calendar soon.

You can also follow Stormstress on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to keep up-to-date.