Weakling
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Defunct | 1999 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Black metal music |
Number of employees | 5 |
Weakling was a black metal ensemble originating from San Francisco in the United States. The group never embarked on tours and produced a single album, Dead as Dreams, which was recorded in 1998 and released through Tumult Records in the year 2000.
History
According to John Gossard, one of the founding members, the band's name was inspired by a track from Swans featured on their Filth album.
The formation of Weakling involved guitarist John Gossard alongside Robert Williams, who handled guitar and drum programming and was also part of Ubzub. An early rendition of the track "No One Can be Called As A Man While He'll Die" appeared on the 1996 compilation tape titled Wintergrief, released by Nahitfol Productions. For a short period, Jim Mack joined on bass and Antoine Reuben Diavola took on drums. Due to dissatisfaction with the dedication of some members, Gossard departed; the remaining musicians continued under the name Black Goat. Notably, a contribution by Mack for the song "This Entire Fucking Battlefield" was later identified as having been derived from Demonic's "Nar Morket Faller," a Norwegian band.
Prior to the album's release, there were rumors about unconventional distribution approaches, such as producing only one copy for a European fan or burying copies accompanied by maps for fans to discover. John Gossard later clarified that these were merely promotional fabrications by the record label and served as inside jokes among the band.
Weakling initially attracted attention partly due to guitarist Josh Smith from The Fucking Champs, with production handled by fellow Champ Tim Green. A recent reissue enhanced their recognition, with the album receiving acclaim from artists like Fenriz of Darkthrone, who regarded it as a masterpiece. Their musical style merges elements from Scandinavian acts such as Bathory, Burzum, and Darkthrone, blended with influences drawn from 1970s progressive rock. The album spans 76 minutes and consists of five tracks, each exceeding ten minutes and containing multiple movements.
Following Weakling's dissolution, Gossard and bassist Sarah Weiner collaborated in the brief-lived doom metal project The Gault, with Weiner performing on drums. Subsequently, Gossard joined the funeral doom outfit Asunder before founding black metal band Dispirit after Asunder ended. Keyboardist Casey Ward transitioned to drumming for The Husbands, while drummer Sam Foster became part of death metal group Saros.
Though Weakling never formally announced a breakup, their activities concluded in 1999.
Members
- John Gossard: vocals and guitar
- Josh Smith: guitar
- Sarah Weiner: bass
- Casey Ward: keyboards
- Sam Foster (also known as Little Sunshine): drums
Discography
- Albums
- Dead as Dreams (2000)
- Demos
- Live Practice Demo (1998)
- Rehearsal Demo (1998)