{"id":21555,"date":"2016-05-11T18:00:01","date_gmt":"2016-05-11T22:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=21555"},"modified":"2017-06-15T21:49:54","modified_gmt":"2017-06-16T01:49:54","slug":"traitrs-premiere-witch-trials-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=21555","title":{"rendered":"Traitrs premiere &#8216;Witch Trials&#8217; video"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-21945\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/6f8f5005-5af6-4521-a17f-dd71bd5782e5.jpg?resize=700%2C466\" alt=\"Traitrs\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/6f8f5005-5af6-4521-a17f-dd71bd5782e5.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/6f8f5005-5af6-4521-a17f-dd71bd5782e5.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>Traitrs premiered the video for their debut single <em>Witch Trials, <\/em>which\u00a0is directed by Francesco Brunotti. The video takes cues\u00a0from the same\u00a0Italian horror influences\u00a0as the song itself, combining 2D and 3D animation for, what the director describes as, <em>&#8220;a mix of classic gothic images and modern digital techniques.&#8221; <\/em><\/p>\n<p>Since the single was released, we&#8217;ve been loving the track&#8217;s razor sharp guitars, relentless drums and the dark lyrics and vocals, which combine into a beautiful post-punk package. The video perfectly captures the mood of the song and somehow makes it even better &#8211; and it&#8217;s pretty flawless. Watch it via YouTube below.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dTC54OWTziY?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-CA&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;It was interesting to watch Francesco piece the video together image by image and scene by scene and slowly figure the concept out like a riddle&#8221;<\/em> says Traitrs&#8217; Sean-Patrick Nolan.\u00a0<em>&#8220;We wanted to stay truthful to his original interpretation of the track so we didn&#8217;t give him much in the way of guidance or direction and he totally nailed it. We knew he&#8217;d tap into some vibrant and macabre elements of the song and bring them to life. The icy landscapes, crows, wolves, burning goat head and melting Virgin Mary, what more could we ask for?&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Traitrs are a Toronto-based band comprised of Sean-Patrick Nolan and Shawn Tucker. Long-time friends, the pair formed as Traitrs in\u00a0mid-2015. Initially conceiving of the band\u00a0primarily as a recording project\u00a0they rapidly\u00a0amassed\u00a0a collection of demos that\u00a0caught the attention of Toronto producer Josh Korody (Dilly Dally, Beliefs, Moon King, Fucked Up), and\u00a0began working with him during sessions\u00a0at his Candle Studios in January of 2016. With Korody&#8217;s guidance, the band set about expanding\u00a0their sound, adding textural depth to their arrangements and weight to their rhythm section,\u00a0transforming their\u00a0stripped-down home recordings\u00a0into a collection of propulsive,\u00a0goth-influenced post-punk that\u00a0immediately\u00a0recalls acts like Sisters of Mercy,\u00a0Bauhaus and Pornography-era Cure.<\/p>\n<p>The album was almost complete when singer Tucker slipped on black ice and badly broke two ribs. He was bed-ridden for several weeks and wrote the album&#8217;s lyrics\u00a0under heavy sedation while locked in an all day cycle of occult cinema. <em>&#8220;It kind of broke me\u00a0physically and mentally.&#8221;<\/em> says Tucker. <em>&#8220;All my days flipped into nights and I started filling my time with\u00a0Italian horror films. I\u00a0watched everything by Fulchi, D&#8217;Amato, Bava and Argento.\u00a0Then I moved on to 70&#8217;s occult films like The Devils, Twins of Evil and La Endemoniada interlaced with 80&#8217;s slasher films. I watched films unceasingly\u00a0and scrapped down lines for nights on end. The lyrics are littered with occult madness, sacrifices, purity, piety, witchcraft, mid-century religion, ghosts and death. I have no recollection of writing any of it.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>These sessions\u00a0became the band&#8217;s debut EP\u00a0&#8216;Rites &amp; Ritual&#8217;. The EP&#8217;s first single <em>Witch Trials<\/em> reflects the development that occurred during their time at Candle, and according to Nolan\u00a0was among the first songs they worked on together and one that set the tone for project.\u00a0<em>&#8220;We always had an idea of how we wanted Traitrs to sound and &#8216;Witch Trials&#8217;\u00a0was the first song we wrote that met our expectations,&#8221;<\/em> he says.\u00a0<em>&#8220;We recorded it at Candle with Josh Korody and the whole thing\u00a0has been one of the best experiences we&#8217;ve had. The vibe at the studio is amazing and Josh truly is one of the best producers in the city.\u00a0He&#8217;s able to pick up on nuances and textures before we hear them and he knows exactly what a track calls for, it could be the tiniest thing but it makes a world of difference to a song and brings it to its full potential.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Rites &amp; Ritual&#8217;\u00a0will be available June 24th\u00a0via <a href=\"http:\/\/hivemindpr.us10.list-manage1.com\/track\/click?u=04780c244c226dd8f0096243b&amp;id=b754a24da1&amp;e=998dd35436\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pleasance Records<\/a><em>.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/04780c244c226dd8f0096243b\/images\/9a0a0f1e-4a4f-42b2-a380-38e1b83eb7d5.jpg?resize=253%2C253&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Traitrs Rites &amp; Rituals EP cover\" width=\"253\" height=\"253\" align=\"center\" \/><br \/>\n<strong>Track list:<\/strong><br \/>\n1. Witch Trails<br \/>\n2. <a href=\"http:\/\/wp.me\/p2B2TV-5HN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Youth Cults<\/a><br \/>\n3. Burnt Offerings<br \/>\n4. Lya<br \/>\n5. Gallows Hill<br \/>\n6. Savior<br \/>\n7. Heretic<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The EP is available for preorder\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/hivemindpr.us10.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=04780c244c226dd8f0096243b&amp;id=7d71546487&amp;e=998dd35436\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Traitrs premiered the video for their debut single Witch Trials, which\u00a0is directed by Francesco Brunotti. The video takes cues\u00a0from the same\u00a0Italian horror influences\u00a0as the song <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=21555\" title=\"Traitrs premiere &#8216;Witch Trials&#8217; video\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21557,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,28,29,30,1907],"tags":[438,3711,4729,4727,4728],"class_list":["post-21555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indie","category-music","category-music-video","category-new-release","category-news","tag-ep","tag-josh-korody","tag-rites-rituals","tag-traitrs","tag-witch-trials"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/6f8f5005-5af6-4521-a17f-dd71bd5782e5.jpg?fit=700%2C466&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2B2TV-5BF","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":21935,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=21935","url_meta":{"origin":21555,"position":0},"title":"Traitrs premiere new track &#8216;Youth Cults&#8217;","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"June 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Traitrs are back with another track from the sessions\u00a0that became the band's debut EP 'Rites & Ritual'. Youth Cults is the second single from the record, following the phenomenal debut track Witch Trials. We're loving this track as much as Witch Trials and it's just as dark. If that chorus\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;indie&quot;","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Traitrs","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/6f8f5005-5af6-4521-a17f-dd71bd5782e5.jpg?fit=700%2C466&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/6f8f5005-5af6-4521-a17f-dd71bd5782e5.jpg?fit=700%2C466&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/6f8f5005-5af6-4521-a17f-dd71bd5782e5.jpg?fit=700%2C466&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/6f8f5005-5af6-4521-a17f-dd71bd5782e5.jpg?fit=700%2C466&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":37388,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=37388","url_meta":{"origin":21555,"position":1},"title":"TRAITRS share &#8216;Oh, Ballerina&#8217; single from upcoming LP","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"August 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Post-punk rising stars\u00a0TRAITRS\u00a0have announced their latest LP\u00a0'Horses In The Abattoir'\u00a0due out this autumn via\u00a0Freakwave, a Berlin-based label that is part of the\u00a0Schubert Music Europe\u00a0group, distributed by\u00a0The Orchard. Ahead of that, the duo presents the single\u00a0Oh, Ballerina. The accompanying video, self-produced with direction and editing by\u00a0Shawn Tucker, is a moody art-house\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"TRAITRS press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/CE723A4A-671E-4403-AC5E-8F750E5A6EE2.jpeg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/CE723A4A-671E-4403-AC5E-8F750E5A6EE2.jpeg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/CE723A4A-671E-4403-AC5E-8F750E5A6EE2.jpeg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/CE723A4A-671E-4403-AC5E-8F750E5A6EE2.jpeg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44566,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=44566","url_meta":{"origin":21555,"position":2},"title":"TRAITRS\u2019 \u2018Possessor\u2019 is the coldwave album we\u2019ve been waiting for","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"March 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"If you\u2019ve been sleeping on TRAITRS, consider this your wake-up call \u2014 delivered in reverb-soaked guitars and haunting 808s at 3am. The Toronto-based coldwave duo just dropped \u2019Possessor,\u2019 their most ambitious record to date, and it\u2019s the kind of album that grabs you by the collar and doesn\u2019t let go.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;darkwave&quot;","block_context":{"text":"darkwave","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=11525"},"img":{"alt_text":"TRAITRS press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7291.webp?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7291.webp?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7291.webp?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7291.webp?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7291.webp?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24184,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=24184","url_meta":{"origin":21555,"position":3},"title":"Culture Addicts&#8217; picks for the best albums of 2016","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"December 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"It's that time of the year again, when we wrap up the last 365 days of music with our favourites of the year. There were loads of great releases during 2016 and we've boiled it down to handful of albums that we liked best\u00a0(in no particular order). We popped up\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;best of&quot;","block_context":{"text":"best of","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"Culture Addicts albums 2016","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/1180401-447246-1.jpeg?fit=878%2C547&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/1180401-447246-1.jpeg?fit=878%2C547&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/1180401-447246-1.jpeg?fit=878%2C547&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/1180401-447246-1.jpeg?fit=878%2C547&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28514,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=28514","url_meta":{"origin":21555,"position":4},"title":"Canadian Music Week 2018 announces more artists","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"March 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Canadian Music Week\u00a0(CMW) has announced the next wave of artists performing at this year's festival taking place May 7-13, at over thirty official CMW venues across downtown Toronto. Atlanta MC, and trap rap king\u00a02 Chainz, Canadian electronic solo artist\u00a0Alice Glass, Seattle based DJ and producer\u00a0Sango, The Used\u00a0and our local faves\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;live&quot;","block_context":{"text":"live","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=25"},"img":{"alt_text":"Canadian Music Week","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/MARCH6_Announcement_1081x1080.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/MARCH6_Announcement_1081x1080.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/MARCH6_Announcement_1081x1080.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/MARCH6_Announcement_1081x1080.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30282,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=30282","url_meta":{"origin":21555,"position":5},"title":"Best albums of 2018 (according to us)","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"December 28, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Here's Culture Addicts' picks for the best albums released during 2018 - in no particular order. For\u00a0reference, where possible, we popped in the album stream so you can take a listen. The Soft Moon - Criminal This release was dark and emotional...and sounds amazing live if you get a chance\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;best of&quot;","block_context":{"text":"best of","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"2018","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/26-2018-Une.jpg?fit=717%2C285&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/26-2018-Une.jpg?fit=717%2C285&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/26-2018-Une.jpg?fit=717%2C285&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/26-2018-Une.jpg?fit=717%2C285&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21555"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25852,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21555\/revisions\/25852"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/21557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}