If you think all metal bands sound the same, you haven’t heard Cast To Sea. Born in the turbulent heart of Southeast North Carolina, this group doesn’t just ride the waves of heavy music—they chart their own course, steering straight through storm and scripture. Their journey, both real and mythic, is a tale of struggle, brotherhood, and the search for purpose in a world that sometimes feels as hostile as the open ocean.
Every great band has its origin myth. Cast To Sea’s begins not with a garage or a bar gig, but with a comic-book legend: two “son-of-a-gun’s” who once faced off as musical rivals, only to find themselves united by a force greater than ego—the call of the sea and the call to play metal. As fate would have it, both men—Kelly (drummer) and Brandon (guitarist/vocalist)—enlisted in the US Navy. Life at sea hardened them and left them with stories that would eventually become the lifeblood of their music.
Their mythic tale, as shared in their Facebook-pinned “comic story,” takes a supernatural turn: each is “taken by sea” on stormy nights, enslaved to the ghostly armada of Davy Jones. But deliverance comes in the form of a mysterious captain who pays their dues in exchange for music. From there, the band’s lore weaves in figures like Ahab, a fellow shipwrecked soul longing for the stage, who joins them aboard the Madam Victory for a journey that, as they warn, “may change you forever.”
It’s a story that invites anyone to jump in: fans are welcomed to add their own sea tales to the mythos, blurring the line between audience and crew. This is more than just a band—it’s an ongoing legend, and everyone is invited to grab an oar.
Cast To Sea’s real-world story is just as compelling. Kelly and Brandon, both Navy veterans, started as musical adversaries, each with different influences and philosophies. But after tossing around names and flirting with genres—hard rock, death metal, tech metal—they felt a different pull: to lean into their faith and relationship with Christ Jesus. That decision would become the compass for everything that followed.
“We reached out to David, our awesome bassist, and he was all in,” they recall. But the search for a vocalist proved harder. “We put the word out…but we couldn’t find a good fit. So we dropped our first single, ‘Coping Apparatus,’ as an instrumental band. Then, shortly after, Brandon felt led to take on vocals. Poor guy couldn’t hold a tune in a bucket at first.”
But that’s the thing about Cast To Sea: perseverance is as much a part of their music as distortion and double-kick. They didn’t wait for a savior; they became their own.
Why the sea? For Kelly and Brandon, the ocean was more than just a workplace—it was a crucible, a metaphor, and a creative wellspring. Their music is soaked in nautical lore, drawing on everything from Persian and Roman sailors to Vikings, pirates, and the ghost stories whispered on the midnight watch.
Their first single, “Coping Apparatus,” introduced listeners to their unique blend of instrumental metal and faith-based storytelling. But it was their second single, “Curse of the Essex,” that really set the tone. Inspired by the true story of the doomed whaling ship Essex—a legend that helped inspire Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick”—and the biblical story of Jonah, the song dives deep into what it means to face the storm, both literal and spiritual.
As they put it: “The lyrics are inspired by the story of Jonah.” It’s a theme that resonates: running from your calling, getting swallowed by circumstances, and finding redemption in the eye of the storm.
Cast To Sea’s approach to recording is as raw and honest as their lyrics. “We don’t have the best of gear but we make up for it in talent and determination,” they admit. For their upcoming EP, “Scourge Of The Seven Seas,” they’re using Boss Katana amps, an 8-string guitar, a 5-string bass, and an Alesis electric drum kit. Everything runs through Focusrite interfaces and Bandlab for the DAW. Mixing and mastering? All done at home.
It’s the same DIY spirit that’s always defined metal—a belief that the message matters more than the medium. And in Cast To Sea’s case, the message is clear: grace, struggle, and the promise of redemption.
At the end of every story, Cast To Sea points listeners to a single verse: Romans 6:23. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In a genre that often revels in darkness, theirs is a voice of hope.
It would be easy to call Cast To Sea a “Christian metal band” and leave it at that. But that would miss the heart of what they’re doing. This is music for anyone who’s ever felt lost at sea, anyone who’s ever fought the waves and lived to tell the tale.
With their second single out and their EP on the horizon, Cast To Sea stands on the deck, looking out at a horizon full of unknowns. Their sound is heavy, their faith is unshakable, and their invitation is open: “Take a cruise on the Victory, but be warned—you may be changed forever.”
Cast To Sea isn’t just a band. They’re a brotherhood, a legend, and a call to adventure. The sea is calling. Are you ready to answer?
Discography
- “Coping Apparatus” (Single, Instrumental)
- “Curse of the Essex” (Single, Inspired by Jonah and the Essex ship)
- “Scourge Of The Seven Seas” (Upcoming EP, 5 tracks)
Fans can find the band on Facebook, where they regularly share updates, invite fans to contribute to their comic legend, and post about upcoming releases. The sea tale never ends—it just grows with every new listener willing to add their own verse.
