Conceived in the fertile metal underground of Richmond, VA circa 2005, COUGH have sought to be the heaviest band ever since their inception. The band takes inspiration from the most savage aspects of extreme music, from crushing doom metal and grimy sludge to early black metal. After the independent 2007 release of their first EP, The Kingdom, COUGH quickly put out their first proper full-length, Sigillum Luciferi (Forcefield Records, 2008). Recorded with acclaimed producer Sanford Parker (Minsk, Rwake, Pelican, Nachtmystium), Sigillum Luciferi was an ugly, agonizing display of misanthropy. Slight bits of psychedelia wormed into the massive riffs and wove their way throughout the band’s inhuman screams, making the record one of the most impressive pieces of doom metal to emerge from North America in quite some time.

Between hospital visits and bouts of near-insanity, COUGH slowly labored forward with the writing of their follow-up album. By 2010 the band had signed to Relapse Records and returned to Chicago, IL, enlisting Parker once again to record their sophomore album, the aptly titled Ritual Abuse. That LP delivered thoroughly massive, psychedelic doom via five epic tracks of impenetrable walls of sludge. Ritual Abuse caught the attention of publications including Stereogum, Metal Injection, Decibel Magazine, and more, and was widely hailed as one of the finest moments of 21st-century doom metal.

After a six year hiatus, COUGH return with Still They Pray, a 65 minute acid-drenched nightmare set to music. Produced by Electric Wizard’s Jus Oborn and recorded by Oborn and Windhand’s Garrett Morris, COUGH pick up where Ritual Abuse left off, masterfully pushing their black cosmic psychedelia to the brink of despair.