WHITECHAPEL’s BEN SAVAGE Talks 'Hymns In Dissonance', Crushing Riffs, and Musical Influences – The Loaded Radio Podcast

Whitechapel’s Ben Savage On The Loaded Radio Podcast

TL;DR

In this episode of The Loaded Radio Podcast, Whitechapel guitarist Ben Savage discusses the band's highly anticipated new album, Hymns In Dissonance, set for release on March 7 via Metal Blade Records. He dives into the writing process, the band’s heaviest breakdowns yet, his biggest influences, and what fans can expect from their upcoming North American tour. Listen to the full interview below!

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Whitechapel’s Hymns In Dissonance: Their Most Brutal Album Yet?

For over a decade, Whitechapel has been at the forefront of modern deathcore, delivering devastating riffs, punishing breakdowns, and unrelenting aggression. Now, with their ninth studio album, Hymns In Dissonance, the Knoxville-based metal titans are taking their sound to darker and heavier depths than ever before.

According to guitarist Alex Wade, the album is designed to be “shockingly menacing and brutal.” With guttural lows, eerie atmospheres, and crushing riffage, Hymns In Dissonance is poised to be one of the heaviest releases of 2024.

In this week’s episode of The Loaded Radio Podcast, we sit down with Ben Savage to break down the album’s concept, the band’s unique approach to songwriting, and what went into crafting this monstrous new record.

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The Concept Behind Hymns In Dissonance

Unlike their previous album, Kin (2021), which explored deeply personal themes, Hymns In Dissonance is a concept album centered around a cult leader gathering followers to commit heinous acts in worship of their dark lord.

Frontman Phil Bozeman describes the album’s title as a direct contradiction:

“Hymns are melodious and harmonious. Dissonance is the opposite. Dissonance represents evil. These tracks serve as hymns for the cult, each one symbolizing a deadly sin.”

The record follows a 10-track journey that builds upon Whitechapel’s legacy while introducing some of their lowest tunings and most intricate guitar work yet.

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Whitechapel’s Heaviest Riffs Yet?

One of the most exciting elements of Hymns In Dissonance is its brutal guitar work. In the interview, Ben Savage breaks down how Whitechapel pushed their sound further than ever before.

One key highlight is the album’s title track, which drops to Drop F tuning in its final breakdown—the lowest tuning Whitechapel has ever used. According to Wade, the shift in tu