Smote - Clyppan
Clyppan takes its name from an Old English verb meaning “to embrace” or “to clasp,” and the release reflects that collective spirit. Recorded live at Bear Bites Horse studio, it captures Smote at full intensity, translating their onstage chemistry into a focused, physical recording. Following the success of A Grand Stream, the Newcastle group refined their live performance into a hypnotic, cyclical force, marked by repetition, drone and a sense of ritual movement. Recognising the potency of this evolution, Rocket Recordings encouraged founder Dan Foggin to document the band in their current form, favouring direct performance over studio reconstruction. With Wayne Adams producing, the four players cut four long-form pieces that strip their sound to its primal elements. The result is Clyppan: a fierce, rhythmic surge that feels ancient in its intent and urgent in its execution. These tracks move like invocations, summoning tension, release and collective momentum. Rather than recreate the atmosphere of a venue, Clyppan captures the sensation of being pulled into the centre of a shared rite – unvarnished, physical, and unbound.