Stabbing Westward, part of the late-’90s mainstream industrial boom, emerged with a distinctive style that combined dour, angst-filled lyrics with dark and moody atmospherics, reminiscent of bands like Nine Inch Nails and Gravity Kills. Their breakthrough came with the gold-certified albums ‘Wither Blister Burn & Peel’ in 1996 and ‘Darkest Days’ in 1998, showcasing their evolution into the early 2000s. After a significant hiatus, the band reunited, marking their return with the EP ‘Dead and Gone’ in 2020 and later releasing their fifth full-length album ‘Chasing Ghosts’ in 2022.
Formed in 1985 in Macomb, Illinois, Stabbing Westward was the brainchild of vocalist Christopher Hall and keyboardist Walter Flakus. The group’s journey from their humble beginnings to mainstream success included lineup changes, major-label debut with ‘Ungod,’ and critical acclaim with albums like ‘Wither Blister Burn & Peel’ and ‘Darkest Days.’ Despite disbanding in 2002, the band members pursued individual endeavors, only to reunite years later and captivate audiences once again with their unique sound and emotional depth, culminating in the release of ‘Chasing Ghosts’ in 2022.