Leviathan (musical project)

Leviathan is an American black metal solo project that started in 1998 by Jef Whitehead under the pseudonym Wrest.

On all Leviathan albums, Wrest records all instruments and performs vocals on his own. Despite having early problems with the release of the fourth album Massive Conspiracy Against All Life, it was released March 24, 2008 in Europe and on March 25, 2008 in North America. Additionally, Wrest has collaborated with the band Sunn O))), and he was an active member of the U.S. black metal supergroup Twilight from its formation until it disbanded in 2014. He has stated in interviews that he has been playing drums longer than any other instrument and that the drums are his instrument of choice. Wrest also played and recorded all instruments as well as vocals in his other project, Lurker of Chalice, which had two demos and one full-length album in 2005 released before it was dissolved. Whitehead also writes all the lyrics for Leviathan but has noted, "I don't consider myself a poet, by any means."[1]

Whitehead briefly ended Leviathan after the release of Massive Conspiracy Against All Life in 2008, allegedly due to a legal struggle between himself and Moribund Records. Due to these issues, Wrest felt as though the project had no future.

Whitehead was arrested on January 9, 2011 on charges of sexual assault and domestic violence. Wrest has confirmed in an interview[2] that the events surrounding his arrest and the accuser have inspired the music and theme of True Traitor, True Whore, which was released through Profound Lore Records after Wrest signed with them in August 2011; he concurrently announced that he had revived Leviathan. Faced with six charges stemming from the incident, Wrest maintained his innocence and took the case to trial. In May 2012, Wrest was found not guilty of all charges except for one count of aggravated domestic battery.[3]

Leviathan's latest album, Scar Sighted was released on 3rd March 2015 through Profound Lore Records. In 2018, Whitehead revealed that he was working on an eighth Leviathan record titled Die to This.[4]