Wanderer On The Continent Of Saplings is the second album by Canada's THRAWSUNBLAT, due for release in early 2013. Frontman/founder Joel Violette (ex-WOODS OF YPRES) is featured in a new interview with Headbangorgtfo.com. An excerpt is available below:

Q: What has been inspiring you throughout the recording process of this record?

Joel: "Atmospherically, the album is inspired by the landscapes across North America. I was lucky enough to experience some unbelievable scenery in my travels with Woods. The Rockies are unreal. The cold forests of Northern Ontario. The drive down the West Coast. Misty (and often frozen) New Brunswick. This North American landscape is sort of the environment within which the album resides.

Lyrically, I wanted to deliver a cohesive story. And one that actually said something. As the concept began to form, I drew a lot from Joseph Campbell’s monomyth for both structure and subject matter. I drew from Nietzsche’s work on the affirmation and celebration of the creative spirit and of always pushing oneself to more. And I even drew a wee bit from Frank Herbert."

Q: For all of the Ypres fans out there wondering, will there another tribute show?

Joel: "Oh man! I’ve been so immersed in the album that I’ve been out of the loop. There will be another tribute show, at some point. The atmosphere, camaraderie, and overall quality of the previous tribute shows will ensure that. There was talk of putting on an outdoor summer fest on David Gold’s birthday in June, which would be unreal. There was a lot of interest in that idea. I would hope to hear the entirety of Woods II played live at such a sunny festival."

Q: What the hell does Thrawsunblat mean?

Joel: "Hah! Great question. I ask myself sometimes. Well, first, it’s a David word—it’s ridiculously creative, yet it’s cool and has an edge to it. And second, I can only describe it like David described it.

He said something like this: 'Look at it this way— when Canadians listen to Northern European metal, anything we write and play will be a bastardized version of European metal. And at the same time, Thrawsunblat, is like one of us, in a bastardized version of a European language, saying the phrase 'Thrash and blast.' Like a great big metal dude going 'Jaaa! Thraws und Blat! Ha ha ha!.'

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Violette recently posted a new video update, which can be viewed below:

The tracklist for Wanderer On The Continent Of Saplings is as follows:

'Lifelore Revelation'

'Once Fireveined'

'We, The Torchbearers'

'Goose River (Mourners' March)'

'Bones in the Undertow'

'Wanderer on the Continent of Saplings'

'Maritime Shores'

'View of a Million Trees'

'Borea (Pyre of a Thousand Pine)'

'Elegy Across the Silence'

'Song of the Nihilist'

'I Am the Viator'

Thrawsunblat is the brainchild of Joel Violette, former guitarist for WOODS OF YPRES. He has reprised his role as songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist for the album, and enlisted Rae Amitay and Brendan Hayter to handle drums and bass respectively. The pair was chosen to complete the Woods of Ypres line-up for the band's European tour in support of Woods 5: Grey Skies And Electric Light. Unfortunately, the tragic passing of David Gold put an end to those plans, but drummer Rae Amitay says, "Thrawsunblat II is an incredibly special way for the three of us to create music together. It's an amazing project, and I'm honoured that Joel has chosen us to be a part of it."

Thrawsunblat II was recorded in July and August, in studios in both Canada and the United States. The band hopes to release both physical copies and digital downloads of the album in January of 2013.

The band's first official release - the Canada 2010 "demo" - is still available via BandCamp.com. Go to this location to check out audio samples and to purchase.

The tracklist is as follows:

'Black Sky'

'Set Us Ablaze'

'Misted Shores'

'Slake the Earth'

'Through the Ice'

'Fire Still Burns'

'She, Arboreal'

'Vastland'