Denver Power Trio Wants to “Crush as Many Peoples’ Eardrums as We Can”

Sometimes the muse becomes self-aware. Kind of like how the brain named itself, there are instances when randomness — lyrics, jams, band names — reveal its true order and intention only after it’s been brought into the world by similarly attuned musicians.

Hearing Holden Sims talk about the beginnings of Shepherd is one such case. The Denver power trio members wanted an ambiguous moniker to avoid being pigeonholed but now know the music was always leading them somewhere unique.

“We were just trying to come up with something that wasn’t identifiable with the music we were playing,” says the vocalist-bassist. “I feel like Shepherd is a metaphysical type of thing. It’s guiding us. We play whatever we feel that we enjoy, and we have the most fun playing.”

Since 2019, that’s been a blend of sludgy post-metal stoner doom, synthesized most recently on Shepherd’s 2024 self-titled debut. Previously released single “Headless Horse” whips along with a spastic root riff that melts into its viscosity by the end, while “To The Stone” steamrolls through four-plus minutes of distorted desert doom. “Sepulcher” cuts straight to the point with its chugging gait, only to be followed by alt-metal epic and open closer “Antechamber.” It’s a heavy trip, for sure.

“It always stays within the same realm of it’s either heavy right off the bat and stays heavy or it can be more dynamic and melodic and then it’s always going to get heavy,” Sims explains. “There’s never a song that we’ve written that doesn’t eventually try to start crushing you over the head.”

Sims, guitarist-vocalist Austin Garrett and drummer Nathan Bilodeau have been cooking up some new grooves, too. While there are plans for an EP within the next year, Shepherd is sharing its latest live already. Hear two unreleased songs on Friday, March 27, when the trio plays hi-dive as part of the Tainted Blade album release show. Vitrify and Scepter of Eligos are also on the bill.

“We want to give people a taste of what we’re doing,” Garrett says. “We’re trying to keep the crowd excited and crush as many peoples’ eardrums as we can.”

The well is full, and there are some surprises sprinkled in there this time, too, including synth and flute parts. 

“We’ve been staying dedicated, but also freeballing and having fun and letting the grooves come to us, sticking it together and making it heavy,” Bilodeau shares. “It’s been a lot easier of a writing process.”

Once a half-dozen or so songs present themselves, Shepherd is going to book studio time, but there’s no sense in rushing it.  

“We have a ton of stuff in the tank, we just have to dot the Is and cross the Ts,” Sims says. “We’re taking more risks, I think. Took out the guesswork and all of the chaos of what we were doing earlier.”

Being tapped into a certain sound feels more natural now, too.

“I love things that are really heavy but in a sense they’re not heavy,” Garrett adds. “Sometimes less is more, when you really strip something down, it gives it more breathe.”

That goes for the lineup, too. The three have been playing together for years — Garrett and Bilodeau since they were teenagers — so they don’t need to add anymore members.

“Sometimes less cooks in the kitchen make a better dish,” Garrett quips. “It’s a hard bond to break.”

“Yeah, why do we need five guys?” Bilodeau adds.

“There’s just a mystique about it,” Sims says of keeping Shepherd lean and mean. “None of us have anyone to hide behind.”

So be sure to stay tuned.

“As long as you keep going, you’re going to get better,” Sims concludes. “Our favorite song is our next song. Every time we come up with something new, it’s always an improvement, it’s always a step forward.”

Shepherd, with Tainted Blade, Vitrify and Scepter of Eligos, 7 p.m. Friday, March 27, hi-dive 7 South Broadway. Tickets are $15.