Tokyo Police Club frontman fronts peasant metal project Netherwilds

The Rise of Netherwilds: Where Peasant Metal Meets Siege Proof Hobbles

If you haven’t heard the whispers of peasant metal lately, you might be missing out on the chaotic and wonderfully theatrical world of Netherwilds. Led by Dave Monks, this band embodies a striking visual and sonic identity, blending raw punk energy with a distinctly medieval, survivalist narrative. But who is Dave Monks, and where does this “peasant” alter ego come from?

Monks’ musical journey has been anything but straight-line. Before forming Netherwilds, he was the former lead singer and guitarist/bassist for the recently defunct Toronto indie rock band Tokyo Police Club. This history is just one chapter in a long, eclectic musical biography that includes his time as bassist in the nu metal outfit Klokwise, where he even covered Limp Bizkit on stage.

Today, Netherwilds is carving out its own space, driven by an intensely imaginative vision. The core lineup features Monks, who commands the vocals and bouzouki playing as “Worm Chewer,” alongside Loamspeaker’s Jesse Turnbull on guitars and production, Two Spoons’ Mitch Maidens on guitar, Vivienne Wilder on bass, and Bohdan Kotik on drums. This collective brings a unique blend of frantic energy and deeply rooted storytelling to their sound.

The band’s narrative is perfectly captured in their recent release, the single Siege Proof Hovel. The lyrics themselves are a vivid exploration of desperate survival and defiance: “At some point amid the toil and taxation, a peasant must take a stand. A fool’s errand you say? Forsooth! How many townsfolk have a moat about their hovel? Better yet – it took a fortnight of every drunkard in town emptying their bladders to fill it up!” It’s a defiant anthem that perfectly sets the stage for the band’s entire artistic vision.

This theme is further explored in their music. A video for their track Return the Goat introduces listeners to Worm Chewer’s peculiar world through tales of desperate survival and misplaced heroism, revealing the larger narrative found in their upcoming debut album, Peasant Rising. This album, which will be released on King Volume Records, is packed with twenty-two tracks that chart the peasant’s unlikely journey toward revolution, from “The Fall” to “Scroll V – The Rescue.”

Netherwilds has already found a footing in the underground scene, gaining recognition for their evocative imagery. They have even embraced the spectacle, hosting a costume contest before Castle Rat’s recent show in Anaheim, proving that the magic of peasant metal isn’t just heard—it’s worn and lived.

With the debut album Peasant Rising set to drop on October 9th, Netherwilds is clearly ready to expand their reign. Keep an eye out for more dates as they continue to bring their unique blend of furious folk and metal revolution to the stage.