Earth Tongue Unleash New Single ‘Dimly Lit Cadaver’
After a relentless touring schedule following the release of their celebrated album Dungeon Vision, Earth Tongue are back with a new single. Dimly Lit Cadaver sees the band return to their love of horror – with lyrics that paint an eerie scene straight out of a 1980’s B-movie. Their monstrous live sound was captured live to tape at Berlin’s Big Snuff Studio, the New Zealand duo’s current home base. They have also released an occult horror-inspired music video to accompany the track, captured on 16mm film by the band themselves.
Dimly Lit Cadaver is a propulsive journey, with haunting vocals and heavy guitar riffs played by guitarist Gussie Larkin on her distinct 1967 Tokai Hummingbird guitar. There are echoes of classic metal and punk, with punchy chants underpinned by chugging, fuzzy, polyrhythmic riffs. The song is featured on the vinyl-only compilation for Field of Vision, the Colorado festival curated by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, where Earth Tongue performed this month.
Filmed in an alpine town in central Switzerland, the song’s video leans into the duo’s penchant for campy yet unsettling imagery. Made up of Gussie Larkin (guitar and vocals) and Ezra Simons (drums and vocals), the duo have become known for their strong visuals as much as their music, with scenes that wouldn’t feel out of place in Rosemary’s Baby or The Shining.
Dimly Lit Cadaver was filmed following a festival the band played in Switzerland, with the location becoming a crucial part of the concept; “Our dream was to find a rundown cabin in the woods to film in. Kinda like an Evil Dead situation,” Gussie says. “The festival linked us up with a local who runs a 100-year-old ski chalet that has been transformed into an artist space and venue for the past 15 years. It was filled with esoteric art, bizarre trinkets and had plenty of spooky spaces to film in.” Earth Tongue and their small crew literally went to great heights to bring the video to life, hauling all of their equipment up the mountain via gondola to capture stunning shots on the mountainside.
Since winning the Aotearoa Music Award for Best Group in 2025, Earth Tongue has been on an undeniable upward trajectory. Their album Dungeon Vision released in February this year via In The Red Records debuted at #2 on the Aotearoa Album Chart, prompting rave reviews globally leading to multiple vinyl re-pressings.
Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop gave the album a rare 9/10 review declaring to his combined 6 million plus followers “This whole LP kicks off with a very, very strong first leg. The riffs, the kitsch, the vocal layers that kinda veer between punk, doom and a medieval garage rock opera. From Dungeon Vision to Demon Cam to Flashlight it’s just an unbreakable run.”
While MOJO said…
“Saucer-eyed mysticism and granite riffs on a Ty Segall-produced LP by Kiwis guitarist Gussie Larkin and drummer Ezra Simons. Segall brings density without excess distortion as the duo balance Iron Man-in-neon-boots heaviness and witching hour psych-folk (Silver Eye).”
The release of Dimly Lit Cadaver coincides with their 27-date tour of the USA, which includes sold out headline shows and an appearance at Austin’s Levitation Festival. With UK and European tours confirmed for October, 2026 is shaping up to be Earth Tongue’s busiest and rowdiest to date.
Photo Credit: Oscar Keys
