Formed in 2016, Bastion’s Wake started with just two people and a vision - combining Sami’s melodic death and doom influences with Ray’s love for playing symphonic power metal. For the first few years, Sami (vocals, 12-string guitar) and Ray (guitar) couldn't find a drummer near enough to them in "NoWhere", DE to play shows/record, but refused to let that keep them home. To allow them to play live, Ray built and programmed "the box" to run their backing tracks and provide audiences with a lush cinematic sound behind Sami’s soaring, haunting, and ethereal vocals, and Ray’s down-tuned technical guitar playing. It synced with a light and video show that would fill the human gap on stage, and the response was more positive than they could have imagined.
Then, in 2019, drummer Rob Westbrook came out of retirement after 25 years (ex Pessimist, Cauldron) and brought his son Ben in on bass, finally adding the missing pieces to the sound, the show, and the BW family.
In 2020, their momentum came to an abrupt halt when Ray suddenly died at home with no warning, and had to spend time recovering from getting an emergency pacemaker at just 30 years old.
Now with their combined mix of (sometimes vastly different) influences and styles, Bastion's Wake is building off of that initial momentum granted to them by their fans to create something fresh and bewitching, yet somehow nostalgic...Prog-power-black metal…with a kiss of doom…?
Their first album, Sea Creatures and Sky Pirates (2019) was received on the local scene with great acclaim, and allowed them to continue to build their live show reach, including a tour with Jonah Weingarten and Matt Barlow’s We Are Sentinels project.
Their sophomore album, Go Tell The Bees, delivers audiences more of that sound in a conceptual album speaking stories of grief, loss, and awakening hope, with songs capable of standing on their own, and in an even bigger way. Mixed and mastered by Øystein G Brun of Borknagar and Crosound Studio, Norway, Øystein was able to take Bastion’s Wake’s huge sound and stacks of layers, highlight the intricate details, and emphasize the emotions of the songs, while adding a lush analog polish on top. With his skill and theirs combined, the team was able to balance the album’s hard-hitting tracks, like Willow’s Ruse and Runway, and the softer sides on Pathos and Tiny Box, to create an immersive audial experience.
Go Tell The Bees vinyl pressing was fully funded on Kickstarter at 100% in the first 10 days, and ended funded at 210%.
Bastion’s Wake continues to play each year at Party Like It’s 793; Delaware's Mead, Metal and Viking festival by Brimming Horn Meadery (featured mead maker of Decibel Beer and Metal Fest), and are regularly booking shows with their friends, previously opening for bands such as; Tengger Calvary, We Are Sentinels, Ashes of Ares, A Sound of Thunder, Empress, LÖR, OK Goodnight, Fires in the Distance, Wythersake, Dawn of Oroborus, and Ashbringer.
ohhimark
Sami Hunter
After getting a karaoke machine at the age of 4, Sami has been on a mission to play every instrument, and sing every style. Co-writer and composer for the band. Often seen at shows in the pit performing their duties as mosh-granny, or trying to find the only bar with a stout on tap. Also enjoys spending time with books and graphic novels.
Offered me the quote, “Why does every SM-58 have a dent in the same spot? You ever notice that?”
Former Bands; Capital7, Citizen Arrest
Current Bands; Attrimony , Butterfly Effect
What was that note again?
Ray Hunter
The guitar, the droid, the tech guy. There for our tech questions, a slick new riff, or an in-depth Lord of the Rings conversation. Quote, “I didn’t even intend to be a guitar player. I just wanted to record music for the video game I was coding. But now I co-write in a band, so that’s pretty cool! Hey, lemme show you this new pedal I got…”
Former bands: Black Hat Marvel, Under Ice
Current bands: Butterfly Effect
Other works; Featured on Dust in the Wind for Ashes of Ares EP Throne of Iniquity
Rob Westbrook
Those of you with a keen eye and encyclopedic metal knowledge may have recognized Rob as the OG drummer for the blackened metal band Pessimist! After stepping out of the metal world to raise a beautiful family, Rob came out of retirement after 25 years to tell stories with BW!
Former bands; Pessimist, Cauldron