Portland-based progressive doom project Eight Bells have officially announced Joel Williams as their new bass player. Williams joins the current lineup, including Andrew Eguchi on drums, Joy Von Spain (Eye of Nix/To End It All) on keyboards/vocals, and founding member Melynda Jackson on guitar/vocals. The addition comes at an exciting time for the band as they begin developing new material together.
Joel Williams is a familiar face in the Portland heavy music scene. He previously played in the doom metal band Usnea, which played its final show at Pyre Fest last month. The bassist’s transition to Eight Bells is a natural step, as he has long respected the band’s unique, boundary-pushing sound.
“I’ve always admired the band’s sound, either when I was doing their sound at clubs or when Usnea got to share the stage with them,” Joel shares. “I’m excited to be in a band with such creative and talented people making devastating extreme heavy music that doesn’t fit into a neat little box.”
Eight Bells, formed in 2010, are known for their atmospheric and experimental approach to heavy music. The band blends ethereal melodies with crushing riffs and haunting vocals. Melynda Jackson, the band’s founder and driving creative force, expressed her excitement about Joel’s addition to the lineup.
“Joel is super fun to play with and be around, and getting to know him in a collaborative environment has been lots of fun,” Melynda says. “I’m excited to see where this combination of folks takes the band as we begin fleshing out ideas for new material. I also think I can probably be in a van with him, so that’s a plus.”
The collaborative spirit within Eight Bells has always been a key part of their creative process, with Melynda emphasizing the importance of organic evolution in their songwriting. “I love in-the-moment group collaboration and find it exciting to see how an idea can evolve organically,” she adds.
Fans of Eight Bells can look forward to seeing how this new lineup influences the band’s sound as they move into their next chapter. Williams’ dynamic playing style and the existing members’ atmospheric and genre-defying approach promise exciting developments for one of Portland’s most innovative heavy bands.
Stay tuned for more updates as Eight Bells work on new material and plan for upcoming live performances.
Joel Williams at Cascadian Midsummer with Usnea
Melynda Jackson with Eight Bells at Cascadian Midsummer
Joy Von Spain with Eight Bells at Cascadian Midsummer
Andrew Eguchi with Eight Bells at Cascadian Midsummer
