Shadow Academy - White Whale (Official Music Video)

The official music video for "White Whale" by Shadow Academy
Written by Dan Avidan and Jim Roach
Animation by Simon Macko
Listen to "White Whale": smarturl.it/SA...
Shop the Shadow Academy Merch Store: store.shadowac...
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Credits:
Produced and Engineered by Jim Roach
Additional Engineering by Jerik Centeno
Mixed by Jay Ruston
Mastered by Justin Schturtz at Sterling Sound
Recorded at Sonic Ranch in El Paso TX and Santa Monica Recordings in Los Angeles.
_____________________________________________
Performance:
Dan Avidan - Vocals
Jim Roach - Bass / Guitars / Synths / Vocals
Nate VanDerPol - Drums
Lyrics:
So, silent tide
Tell me which face do I show the world
And which one do I hide
With a crow’s demon eyes
I can look beneath the surface
And over horizon lines
Oh! White whale
Dragging me down under
A coffin with no nail
Now I go, set sail
Through the endless waters
I’ve lost the last blue trail
Fading from home, so…
I have no way to know
Unless you’ve seen a ghost
I don’t know where to go
Unless you’ve seen it, seen it
Dive, vicious dance
Tell me poison pouring from my heart
Can burn into the lance
Oh! White Whale
Dragging me down under
A sentence with no jail
Now I go, raise sail
Stand before the altar
A death bride with no veil
Waiting below, so….
I have no way to know
Unless you’ve seen a ghost
I wander waves alone
Unless you mean it, mean it
I have no way to know
Unless you mean it, mean it
Oh! White Whale
Dragging me down under
A crusade with no grail
Hanging my own rope
I have no way to know
Unless you’ve seen a ghost
I wander waves alone
Unless you’ve seen it
I don’t know where to go
Unless you mean it, mean it

[@GameGrumps]

certified banger

[@thescrublife9340]

For real.

[@lilbacca9470]

Agreed

[@connieoliver2333]

Bussin.

[@Samuelisakson]

Def

[@jamesheit609]

This song is going to fit right next to Mastodon for songs about Moby Dick nicely! Metal stamp of awesome from me!

[@laia1742]

THE FAULT LIES WITH YOU, ISHMAEL!

[@3loyxleb769]

low tide high tide

[@Kofhiliphus]

"My fault? I dare say its all thanks to me!"

[@ketsuekimiyagawa7162]

Personally, I've always wanted to hear what Danny's voice could do with a song that isn't about him trying to get laid and failing. I'm not knocking NSP or Starbomb but I want to hear what else Danny can do that isn't comedy or parody. This is exactly what I was hoping for. Fucking epic. It's like if Bruce Dickinson cameo'd on a Rush single~

[@L33PL4Y]

You could always check out his early bands Northern Hues and Skyhill, but this is WAY better than those

[@tommy_casual]

Skyhill has some great tracks. Run with the Hunted is a solid song

[@mishmosh_ml]

dan’s also done some stuff with TWRP, things like starlight brigade and black swan really lean into his vocal ability. you can also check out his collaboration with Super Guitar Bros, his voice is oddly fitting with the softer sound of the acoustic guitar

[@KingSKRILby]

I mean his 80's covers in the Under the Covers albums are solid, though I could be biased as a huge fan of the 80's haha.

[@RageTastesLovely]

The Rush comparison is DEAD ON, I thought the exact same thing

[@lacriaturadekentucky]

WE'RE SPLITTING OUR LUNGS WITH BLOOD AND THUNDER WITH THIS ONE 🔥🔥🔥

[@IAteAllToasts]

WHEN YOU SEE THE WHITE WHALLLLEEEEEEEE

[@HJ28_398]

WHITE! WHALE! HOLY! GRAIL!

[@lhobang]

WE'RE MAKING OUT OF THE CANTO V WITH THIS ONE 🎣🎣🐳🐳🐋🐋🌊🌊

[@rafamartinezrosello6661]

Real, i just hope the Indigo elder survives

[@completelybored9228]

I wondered why I was recommended this video...

[@johnnycage4444]

WHITE WHALE HOLY GRAIL ISHMAEL ISHMAEL

[@RichtofenE115]

Bon Voyage Your mermaid's setting sail

[@hsd6716]

project moon brainrot spotted!!

[@RenoKyrie]

"Nice meeting you again.... YOU F**KING WHALE"- Some Ginger Woman(Limbus Company 2023)

[@hhbrbrrbrbrbrbrbrkkvkkbkb9363]

THE FAULT LIES WITH YOU *ISHMAEL*

[@yodaswrinklynuts]

ALL HANDS, LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOO

[@cibrig8719]

OARSMEN!!!!!

[@stormylobby]

I JUST CAME FROM PLAYING LIMBUS COMPANY TO LISTEN TO THIS SONG AND THIS WAS THE THIRD COMMENT I SAW WHEEZE

[@tracyknehr4458]

I don't think Shadow Academy could've gotten off to a better start. You guys hit the ground sprinting full tilt, and I can't wait to see what comes next!

[@drakemallard1486]

100%. This song and album need to blow up and take over the rock world.

[@KDJewl3]

Couldn't agree more. Incredible song, incredible sound. Can't wait to see what they cook up next in that nasty sexy oven.

[@ImBarelyMe]

I always adore how the captain and the whale are the only ones in the heaviest detail, putting you in his mind. The crew are just bodies. But the whale. It and he are at war, and he is vowing to hunt it down, no matter the cost, which Is seen through his ageing face. that he has devoted everything to this hunt

[@Bladkaos]

I don't know if i've ever been more excited for an album, let alone a single, than i am for this

[@splink7951]

Yo I totally agree never in my life have I’ve been more excited for anything album to drop this single was 🔥🔥🔥

[@drakemallard1486]

I am shook... This is such a great song. Deep metaphors, great riffs, and Dan's perfect voice combined with serious themes and epic feels..... Perfect.

[@DrakeWarriorIgonHarpooner]

Curse you Bayle! I hereby vow! You will rue this day! Behold, a true drake warrior! And I, Igon! Your fear made flesh! Solid of scale you might be, foul dragon... But i will riddle with holes your rotten hide! With a hail of harpoons! With every last drop of my being!

[@milky7257]

I love hearing Dan's voice tackle some cryptic and more aggressive melodies! This project has me super pumped and can't wait to see the new dimensions of his artistry being added to the worlds of Skyhill and The Northern Hues.

[@jbkruse]

Suddenly, Dan's discussions of reading Moby Dick come full circle. It's an amazing talent and a true gift to read a work of literature and spin out another piece from the tendons. Well done!

[@jburt779]

I was thinking the same thing. I normally hear after the fact how a song was conceived and produced. It kinda felt like I was low key along for the ride this time while they created killer sonic pyrotechnics.

[@theadventurer2628]

He read Moby Dick? But that's the most boring book ever! Right next to Catcher and the Rye. No one even dies in that book yet somehow it inspired a school shooting.

[@Piece-Of-Time]

​@@theadventurer2628Moby Dick isn't any boring, it just that haf of the book is about adventures and half is encyclopedia for whale hunters. If you skip the encyclopedia parts(I didn't😎) you won't be bored, something always happens there

[@V1ncenz010]

@@theadventurer2628man this is the best book I’ve read, (for some reason it’s way sillier than I imagined) it’s just peak writing, and I’m not even a big book worm

[@liviemillie6455]

@@Piece-Of-Time and then there's me who picked the book up FOR the taxonomy of whales. .. I'm a cetacean nerd ... XD

[@Heathcliff_LCB]

WE FINNA GET BLIND OBSESSION WITH THIS ONE!!!!🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@mediabreakdown8963]

02:10 I love how the bottom of his trench coat morphs into a whale tail! Animated well and some badass symbolism.

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

I love mobey dick but I love the idea of a very almost demonically possessed old man who mistook Cthulhu for a whale and through nothing but a alcohol and hate fueled frenzy is keeping the end times at bay. It could be a king in yellow style unreliable narrator story and this type of art work would be so perfect. Like yea Howard old octopus face is scary but that captain would be legally blind today and hasn’t seen a sober day since he was 15 and worked his first whaler and he REALLY hates that “whale” it also helps that the tribes men (they are the only ones crazy enough to work with him these days) that he employ come from the islands that purged the fish men on the island next to theirs and engraved the harpoons with runes.

[@creamlass]

This song is so cool . Feels like a grunge band found synthesizers and also a key to my heart

[@SwiftestScout]

so.,... rush?

[@gracefulslumber8441]

Yes 🥰

[@БруноБуччелати-н6б]

OARSMEEEEEEEEEN

[@AEaston]

I have always loved Shoocharu’s work, but this animation really shows how much he’s grown since I first started following his stuff… it’s incredible. Well done.

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

I can’t help but think this video in theme and story would work for blood and thunder by mastodon

[@too_blatant]

@@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus well, they’re both about Moby Dick, so that makes sense Altho the stickman comic will always be what I associate with that song

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

@@too_blatant true you can’t bear the stick man one but this would be a close second. Think I might run a call of Cthulhu with a moby-dick theme to it now.

[@MB-eh2kp]

Me when the funny long haired ginger with ptsd kills a big fish (idk I didn’t finish canto 5)

[@ethanrodriguez408]

I don’t know if I’ve ever cranked the volume up on a song so fast. Those high notes Dan is hitting gives me some awesome rush vibes, that guitar tone is so crunchy and groove inducing, and that synth is tasty!

[@travisraymond5888]

How does Dan keep doing this? How can one man's voice perfectly work with every genre of music he tries? LEGENDARY!

[@sweetpea2604]

He’s the true DJ Music Man 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻

[@TaidaAle]

fishmael

[@DokiDokiGuitarClub]

Man, this is so good! Always love when Danny and company venture into more "serious" music. Parts of this remind me of The Bravery, but also super 80's metal/synth goodness!

[@lovelybuddy143]

Love the username ✨

[@DokiDokiGuitarClub]

@@lovelybuddy143 haha thanks!

[@therealmckoy6772]

@@DokiDokiGuitarClub I concur

[@joelypowell2522]

This is brilliant, I can’t WAIT for a whole album of this!

[@Brendawn12]

BAYLE!!!

[@1ofthelastrockers]

I HEREBY VOW!!!!

[@bloodfarts5317]

YOU WILL RUE THIS DAY

[@danykyucat]

I have no words to describe how amazing the song and the animation are, I'm astonished. I can't wait to listen to the full album!

[@Mawnsturr]

Listening to Danny's voice singing more serious topics to heavier music has me in absolute awe. Like I am absolutely in love with this song. I can't wait to see what you guys create. What an incredible song...

[@DustInTime]

This is right up there with Magnum Bullets for me. He nails both songs perfectly.

[@Mawnsturr]

@@DustInTime Absolutely, 1000% agree

[@cartreezy1631]

Ditto

[@thetrashpanda9085]

Hearing Danny talk about Moby Dick on Game Grumps and how he's got into reading classic novels it doesn't surprise me that this is the first single he chose for Shadow Academy. LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!! Can't wait for the full album to come out!

[@NickHoad]

Maybe there’ll be other tracks based on Dracula and whatnot

[@kashsmith6181]

This makes me want a Moby Dick animated movie directed by Genndy Tartakovsky and music by Shadow Academy.

[@DioLT]

I was so hyped for this, and you didn't disapoint one single bit. This is awesome. Welcome Shadow Academy

[@Spicygoats]

Yo I thought the red moon at 1:40 was just for aesthetic but it looks like the whale's eye is staring at the boat, I love badass music videos

[@omnizeitgeist2779]

The hi-hat at 00:28 hits the pocket so unbelievably well, so fresh!

[@omnizeitgeist2779]

It perfectly gives the vocals something to explode off of. That whole section has such a gnarly groove!!

[@LSDeadly]

Danny! This shit is a fuckin' bop dude! You and Jim did absolutely excellent and I can't wait until the album drops 💙💙💙💙

[@anniequestions5228]

...wanted to like this comment, but it`s at 69 likes...

[@LSDeadly]

@@anniequestions5228 you can like it now, someone messed it up already lmao

[@General_Nothing]

“Just a good simple tale about a man who hates an animal.” -Ron Swanson

[@atomrenner]

OH MY GOD I CANT WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIT

[@anotherwesley7661]

FROM HELL'S HEART I STAB AT THEE; FOR HATE'S SAKE I SPIT MY LAST BREATH

[@Sunny_Ray911]

YESSSSS! This is awesome! I knew Danny was super into Moby Dick, so this makes sense it's the first release for the new band. Looking forward for the album release!

[@zshivkonezshivkov380]

WHITE WHALE! HOLY GRAIL!

[@Joyful_StaR]

I like how this song doesn't have like a secret meaning, it's straight up a song about Moby Dick, it's so cool!

[@riverofpower5659]

When Dan first announced Shadow Academy I knew it would be good, but even I didn't expect it to be THIS good. This completely blew me out of the water and I am HERE for it! Hurry up and release the album so you can go on tour goddammit! I need a band tee with that sick nasty Shoocharu art on it!!!

[@kokokatodany]

I'm simply amazed. To be a single and the first song shown by the band it's too wonderful, and being accompanied by the animation makes it much better.

[@Salsu5635]

THE FAULT LIES WITH YOU ISHMAEL!

[@taczpat5610]

WHITE WHALE, HOLY GRAIL

[@ukoid]

Oh, this fits into my rock and roll playlist on Spotify EXTREMELY nicely. My ears will never recover from this.

[@Chu_Nyanning]

It’s amazing when you can almost feel the passion coming out of a person’s voice when they sing. It’s especially true with Dan in my opinion.

[@puyjoven1873]

Man, I love this. The music video, the key changes, Danny's voice. Wow.

[@auradiae]

Ive had this on repeat for WEEKS now, I love hearing Dan go so hard on music that he loves with such a passion. It translates through and it's SUCH a banger fr

[@Geth-Who]

1:51 Wait wait wait, is he seeing a monster of HIMSELF from later in the vid when he's gone even madder? That's RAD AS FUCK.

[@pixxieestixx]

I've watched this twice already and i still just. cannot process how EPIC this is

[@drakemallard1486]

Can't stop listening to it lol... 6 times now.

[@sausageimp2704]

All hands, full speed toward where the lights flicker. The waves... will lay waste to everything in our way.

[@jadagun6600]

beyond excited for what you guys do next !! everything about this single is amazing

[@slimchelmi6940]

that last frame of ahab's face... I've come to expect this of Shoo at this point, but his animation alone makes me feel so much and then this absolute *BANGER* of a track!!!! I hope you guys think about going live with this, cause I really want to see and hear this live!!

[@Scrofar]

The drums. Dan's vocals. The choice of the old-timey square frame ratio. The portrayal of only showing the sailor's face as opposed to the others. The freaking visuals. This is stunning and awesome.

[@velvaetalt]

jesus christ this is so cool. the visuals! the music! absolute perfection.

[@smallgoblin2594]

It feels so weird to hear a man who's only characteristic in my head is being goofy be so badass

[@Vulpes_Umbra]

I'm so happy that this was on my recommendations

[@immetalmuncher8716]

I'm not kidding when I say this played at a baseball between innings.

[@quiteindeed6809]

When the recommended hits just right.

[@amethystcovette]

Awesome animation, The lyrics are beautifully woven, I’m hyped for this to continue

[@MrTobi013]

Man, this song gives off "The Lighthouse" vibes. The black and white visuals with splashes of color when the story calls for it. You can feel the mission this hunter's on and it's deep and amazing!!

[@limepie3801]

This is criminally under-viewed! The music is fantastic, and the animation/visuals are breathtaking!!

[@phiavel]

I’m gonna hide somewhere at work so I can peacefully enjoy this fuck yeah

[@meliarosemary8091]

Me at work watching the countdown rn 😂

[@daltoroochie]

wow, wow, wow. absolutely fucking incredible. i love every single bit of this and i am so excited to hear the next single and the album!

[@LtSprinkulz]

This is like hearing Vinny do the serious vocals for Red Vox. I know who it is, but it's so alien at the same time.

[@mierardi88]

I love this so much: I miss guitar forward rock! The sound production is interesting, the vocals are treated as another instrument almost blending entirely in the mix. Amazingly well done, I'll be watching this closely

[@williammilhans5146]

Holy fuck, the imagery in this music video is so vivid and violent, and the song so heavy and sharp, I can almost taste the blood in the old captain's mouth

[@Jay-gv9ge]

From the music to visuals, it was totally groovy! I can't wait to hear more from Dan's new band.

[@mlgproplayer2915]

*HO L Y G R A I L ! ! ! !*

[@glitchrix5445]

This was so good! I can’t wait for more shadow academy music!

[@greysuede6865]

Where's my man Queequage at?

[@antoniozanchetta9040]

Woah, Dan. Did Shadow Academy start writing this song after you finished reading Moby Dick? Cause if so, that's epic dude! The song is epic, shoocharu's animation is epic. Such a solid first track for Shadow Academy! ❤️

[@sewerpeople346]

This song is so fucking good

[@turntsnaco2878]

2:51 chills every time

[@IAteAllToasts]

That part is so cool

[@comanche1924]

Shout-out to the live chat, what a blast! So excited for the rest of this album

[@Robin_Goodfellow]

Holy grail?

[@darkunicorn6669]

I need to find my white whale and stare it right in the fucking eyes. This song is so inspirational, thank you. Thank you Dan, thank you everyone else involved, thank you.

[@shadenyite7657]

@@GreyMailMare33 What they said makes sense. I don't know what you think the meaning of a white whale is but its kinda like going against the odds. Saying that, this song maybe isn't positive but what people get inspersion from is up to them. Even if it doesn't make sense to other people.

[@tellmeninetails5819]

@@shadenyite7657 Well in moby dick the whale was basically an animal just being an animal that took ahabs limb when ahab was hunting it, because his pride was hurt and he felt like his life was going out of control he basically projected all of his lives problems onto the whale and hunted it. I'm pretty sure he dies because he can't let go of his hated or accept that he lost his limb from an animal just protecting itself. To him the whale was a malicious entity, the devil of the sea.

[@jeffwatson7345]

so Moby Dick is a story about obsession and revenge and the dangers of those emotions . it is a cautionary tale of how giving into these emotions can cost a person everything , including their life for nothing of importance. you should avoid a white whale at all cost !

[@darkunicorn6669]

@@jeffwatson7345 what if instead of just "avoiding" and "running away from" my white whale I stare it right in its fucking eyes and understand it

[@tellmeninetails5819]

@@darkunicorn6669 Having a white whale means something terrible has happened to you and you're blaming something for it. The "whale" itself has little to do with it, the real thing you're fighting is inside of yourself. By confronting the white whale you're insisting that revenge will bring back what you lost or give you some satisfaction even though it won't and even if you understand it(which as I said before is an introspection thing) you're probably in front of the thing that hurt you and in danger.

[@anonymeroverlord]

This is incredible, if you keep this up, Shadow Academy is sure to become one of my favorite bands of all time. Excited for what's coming!

[@silveryaero7719]

That main riff gives me Thunderkiss '65 vibes, can't wait for the full album.

[@MattDelhauer]

Danny's voice has such a classic prog rock quality to it, it works amazingly with this style

[@executor32]

Sickest musical adaptation of _Moby-Dick_ since Mastodon's "Blood and Thunder"

[@Gamemaster13000]

This will be my first time hear Jim perform so I'm excited to see what his style is like.

[@Neyonius]

I love that Dan made it a point over many GG eps that he was reading Moby Dick and then one of his first videos with his new band is a MD inspired video.

[@HCrescentMoon]

That moment of self reflection, on the brink of getting what you desire or destroying yourself, ignored, very powerful story. I've never read Moby-Dick but this video has me interested

[@LordPichuPal]

This song kicks ass, the buzzing of the guitar reminded me of listening to Muse and I really love the hard rock sort of sound it has going for it. Can't wait to see more of what's to come

[@allielowry6191]

Dan's love of grunge finally pays off

[@akumaouja4062]

As a literary nerd it's really fucking funny to me how the literally unreal amount of technological leaps the Whaling Industry underwent almost immediately after Moby Dick came out and the ensuing trivialization of the process+whales becoming endangered turned the books theme from a parable about trying to enforce punishment upon literally God for his transgressions and the futility/nobility/insanity of belief in impartial justice for all to one about a crazy man obsessed with revenge to an unreasonable degree.

[@weremagnus]

I love the terrifying grin at 2:06

[@zacharymicah]

Dammit Dan, why you gotta make an album that I can't stop listening to! It's just so damn good! Thank you for the entire album dude, your voice is so awesome to listen to and I assume Jim did all the instruments so great job to you dude! If there's another album of musical wizardry from you, don't make us wait too long!

[@Xcizior]

dan together with cryptic lyrics? awwww yeah no joke, this sounds incredible.

[@keirafae6669]

My neck and jaw hurts from head banging and aggressively mouthing the lyrics. This is phenomenal guys I'm so fucking hyped for the album. Dan, your voice is something to be fucking treasured xoxox

[@wesleyjamison1531]

this is the most badass character ive seen in a music video in a long time, too bad he was fighting a god.

[@SamSphinx]

Those guitars, damn.

[@PhilipGomes_SmashBro]

This song consistently gives me goosebumps. Been listening to it on repeat and it's incredible. The animation is equally moving, some moments in particular give me shivers. The audio mixing is absolutely spectacular too.

[@MrNic59]

Watching this and remembering Dan talking about how he read Moby Dick on Grumps feels like a journey coming full circle!

[@lobotomateploutocrate7785]

Shoocharu use of color always amaze me ! Such a talented artist ! Also the song really slap ! Fucking love it

[@roachdoggjr1454]

I was looking for that one blood and thunder meme vid, but stumbled on this instead, pretty good accidental discovery.

[@jwwhitmarsh8411]

Holy shit I wasn't ready for this sound. This shocked me like Caravan did when Rush released it. The mastering is incredible. The musical skill of Jim Roach is wild. Of course the epic impact of the voice of the Siren known as Leigh Daniel Avidan is bone shattering. You've blown me away yet again and I'm so goddamn excited to see where this goes.

[@thewolf_unknown9640]

When i first heard this song i grabed my Bass started playing and rocked this awesome song like 10 times in a row

[@Content._.Creator.]

I know this is just a music video but I really want to see the backstory of the old guy and the white whale

[@Neyonius]

Then read or listen to Moby Dick, it'll fill you in.

[@comdickinson5964]

Finally. A Moby Dick piece that still follows the folly of revenge, but isn't either a dictionary thick book, or a joke about the fact that there is a whole paragraph dedicated to talking about men.

[@MangaGirl232]

Amazing video from start to finish and the music is so good! I cannot wait to see what your future stuff entails, so excited to see this new band grow