Black Road – Hash King (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Release Context

Hash King is the fifth track from Black Road’s debut full-length, Witch of the Future, a seven-song statement released on October 31, 2019. Issued in the underground’s favored physical formats, the album arrived via DHU Records as limited edition vinyl and cassette, and via BloodRock Records as a limited edition CD digipak. For a Chicago heavy band steeped in doom and psych traditions, the Halloween drop felt apt, underscoring the record’s moody aesthetic and its devotion to weight, atmosphere and ritual pace.

The Sound of Hash King

Hash King distills Black Road’s approach to riff-centric heaviness. The track favors a deliberate tempo and thick, saturated guitar tones, the sort of fuzz that blooms at the edges and lingers in the room. Underneath, a solid rhythm section keeps the groove unhurried but insistent, creating the kind of head-nodding pocket that defines classic doom and stoner metal. Lead lines cut through with measured clarity, serving melody rather than flash, and the vocals ride that low-end tide with a balance of grit and control.

The title hints at a haze-laden mythology, and the music follows suit, trading in repetition and trance to induce a slow-burn momentum. Riffs unfold in cycles, each pass tightening the coil as dynamics rise and fall. It is heavy without haste, benefitting from space between the hits and sustained notes that curl like smoke. Rather than chase density for its own sake, the arrangement embraces contrast, letting open chords, rests, and feedback act as compositional tools. The effect is both grounded and hypnotic, built for volume and immersion.

Themes and Atmosphere

While Hash King speaks in the abstract language of riff and tone, it evokes familiar signposts of the genre: altered states, ritual repetition, and the lure of the slow, inexorable groove. The song reads as a meditation on power and presence, where the “king” in question is as much an energy as a character. There is a blues undercurrent in the progression and a psych tinge in the way motifs spiral, pointing to the band’s command of rock’s older dialects even as they push into heavier territory. This interplay between weight and drift gives the track its pull, suggesting ceremony as much as celebration.

Video Direction and Mood

The official video for Hash King comes to life through the eye of director, editor and cinematographer Don Corthier, whose continued collaboration with the band shapes a visual identity that prizes texture and feel. The project’s inception and execution were made possible with the support of Liza Moon, reinforcing the close-knit, DIY framework that often drives the heavy underground.

Corthier’s approach favors patience and atmosphere, giving the music room to breathe while aligning visuals to the song’s deliberate pacing. Rather than overpower the track, the edit leans on measured cuts and tactile detail, framing the performance and the mood it generates. It is the kind of direction that trusts the riff to lead, translating the song’s rolling low-end and saturated guitars into imagery that emphasizes presence over spectacle.

Production and Engineering

Hash King, along with the rest of Witch of the Future, was tracked, recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered at Roosterbat Studios in Antioch, Illinois, by John Becker and Alec Haley. The production prioritizes warmth and impact: guitars carry a full midrange without masking the drums, and the bass is allowed to occupy its own lane, anchoring the mix. Vocals sit forward enough to articulate melody while still feeling integrated with the band’s wall of sound.

The result is a recording that captures the physicality of a live-heavy style. There is heft in the kick and snare, bloom in the cymbals, and a pleasing saturation that suggests analog sensibilities even within a modern workflow. It is an approach that suits doom and stoner forms, where resonance and sustain are as important as attack.

Album Placement and Flow

As the fifth cut on a seven-track record, Hash King arrives at a pivotal moment in Witch of the Future, where the album’s arc benefits from a deep-groove reset. Positioned there, the song operates as both a reinforcement of the band’s core sound and a hinge point for the record’s second half. Its pacing and weight help maintain narrative cohesion, reminding listeners that Black Road’s debut is sequenced with intention, letting long-form dynamics govern the journey as much as individual hooks.

Underground Fabric and Formats

The decision to release Witch of the Future across limited vinyl, cassette and CD digipak speaks to the culture that surrounds bands like Black Road. These formats represent more than nostalgia; they embody a community that values artifact, artwork, and the ritual of listening. Labels like DHU Records and BloodRock Records occupy a crucial corner of this ecosystem, amplifying artists who prioritize craft over trend and offering editions that feel curated rather than mass-produced.

Where to Hear and Follow

Listeners can find Witch of the Future and other releases on the band’s Bandcamp page, explore updates and background on the official site, and stay connected via social platforms under @blackroadband. Merchandise and physical editions are typically made available through these channels, reflecting the group’s close relationship with its audience.

Credits

Video: Filmed, edited and directed by Don Corthier. Inception and execution support by Liza Moon.
Audio: Tracked, recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered at Roosterbat Studios (Antioch, IL) by John Becker and Alec Haley.
Release: Witch of the Future (7 tracks), released October 31, 2019. DHU Records (limited edition vinyl and cassette), BloodRock Records (limited edition CD digipak).