With the arrival of Changeling, a boldly progressive new chapter in the history of death metal is bound to unfold. Conceived by fretless guitar virtuoso Tom "Fountainhead" Geldschläger - who's previously played with Amogh Symphony, Belphegor, Defeated Sanity and Obscura - this new project dives into the deepest recesses of our subconscious, where realities' boundaries blend into the infinite possibilities unlocked by the imagination.
On Changeling's self-titled debut album, Geldschläger is joined by core band members drummer Mike Heller (ex-Fear Factory, Malignancy, Raven), vocalist Morean (Alkaloid, ex-Dark Fortress) and bassist Arran McSporran (Virvum, Vipassi). The album also features contributions from Bill Hudson (Trans-Siberain Orchestra, Doro, I Am Morbid), Jason Gobel (ex-Cynic, ex-Monstrosity), Yatziv Caspi (ex-Orphaned Land), James Dorton (Ne Obliviscaris, Black Crown Initiate), Andy Laroque (ex-Death, King Diamond), plus more special guests, including a 50-piece orchestra.
The album's lead single is the ultimate immersion into subconsciousness. "Abyss" is impossibly heavy; cavernous vocals, crushing guitars, gravity-defying orchestration and a microtonal choir inspired by avant-garde composer György Sándor Ligeti sink into ego-death, only to swirl into transcendence.
Watch the video for "Abyss" below:
Changeling comes out April 25th via Season of Mist.
Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/changelingchangeling
Geldschläger is already widely considered a modern-day guitar legend. His fearless fretless guitar playing has earned endorsements from Aristides Guitars, Neural DSP Plug-ins, Steinberg Software, Loxx Products, Engl Amplification, Deadweald Audio Engineering, Elixir Strings, MONO cases and Bareknuckle Pickups. But while he's already pushed technical death metal to further extremes - most noticeably on "Weltseele", the 15-minute epic that he contributed to Obscura's album Akróasis - Changeling defies all categorization.
"Abyss" serves as both a mirror and a gateway. The lead single off Changeling's debut album is the culmination of an evolution that is years in the making. Unblemished by studio trickery, the song is reflective and introspective while also charting new sonic dimensions that are as vibrant and otherworldly as a dream.
The video for "Abyss" was created by Chris Hesse / Strangeworks
In a significant development in early 2024, Fountainhead, now branded under the name CHANGELING for his new project and album, signed with the label Season of Mist. This venture marks a new chapter in Tom’s career, amplifying his visionary approach to music. Accompanied by an all-star band featuring members from Fear Factory, Alkaloid, and Virvum, the project CHANGELING showcases a 60-minute concept album that takes all aspects of Tom’s artistry to new heights.
The album, sharing its name with the project, blends progressive metal, death metal, jazz/fusion, and world music, enriched with complex orchestrations by a 50-piece ensemble of guest musicians. It includes the eagerly anticipated “Part 2” to his renowned composition “Weltseele,” an orchestral metal epic from Obscura’s billboard-chart-entering Akroasis album, which broadly introduced Fountainhead to the metal community in 2016.
Core Lineup:
Tom Fountainhead (ex-Obscura, Amogh Symphony, Belphegor, Defeated Sanity) - Fretted & fretless electric & acoustic guitars, oud, keyboards, composition and arrangements.
Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Malignancy, Raven) - Drums.
Arran McSporran (Vipassi, Virvum) - Fretless bass.
Morean (Alkaloid, Dark Fortress) - Lead vocals & lyrics.
Guest Musicians:
Bill Hudson (Trans-siberian Orchestra, Doro, I am Morbid) - Guest guitar solo
Jason Gobel (ex-Cynic, ex-Monstrosity)- Guest guitar solo
Andy Laroque (ex-Death, King Diamond) - Guest guitar solo
Yatziv Caspi (ex-Orphaned Land) - Tabla, hangdrum, dabouka, riq & shakers
Ally Storch (Subway To Sally)- Violins, viola & cello
James Dorton (The Faceless, NeObliviscaris, Black Crown Initate) - Spoken words
Alexander Kerski (Vianova)- Backing & harmony vocals
Matthias Alexander Preisinger - Piano and glockenspiel, violins & viola
Martin Matiasovic - Horns & Wagnerian Tube
Jan Ferdinand - Vibraphone & marimba
Chris Rützel - Flutes
Ivar Ludvig Nitzler - Cello
Shiho Murano - Tuba
Juliane Erding - Wagnerian tube & horn
Eduard Cortez - Wagnerian tube & horn
Tillmann Schulz - Wagnerian tube & horn
Ava Bonam - Female vocals
Moran Magal - Piano
Cydney McQuillan-Grace, Lauren Gill, Shannon Bedford, Sara Robalo; Tenor and Bari - Ben Francis, John Schaffer, Alice Williams, Cyd McQuillan-Grace; Alto - Lauren Gill, Sara Robalo; Tenor and Bass - James Schouten & John Schaffer - Choir vocals
Krassimir Jossifov - Trumpet
Brandt Attema - Trombones & bass trombones
Kristian Petkov - Bassoon
Stefan Prost - Church organ
Seonghyeon Park - Clarinet
Arnfried Falk - Oboe
Rouven Haliti - Upright bass
Dalai Cellai - Cello
Recording Studio:
FountainheadHQ, Hellersounds, Saforill, Klanghafen, Landesmusikakademie Berlin, Musikhochschule Carl-Maria-Von-Weber, Muziek Studio Beeld, Sonictrain.
Production Credits:
Produced & Engineered by Tom Fountainhead.
Mixed by Tom Fountainhead at FountainheadHQ.
Mastered by Leon Schmidt at his home studio & FountainheadHQ.
Cover Art:
Aaron Pinto (Gutslit) / KidSquidy
Photography:
Aaron Pinto (Gutslit) / KidSquidy
➤ Pre-save & Pre-order: https://orcd.co/changelingchangeling
Follow Fountainhead & Changeling:
Website: http://www.thefountainhead.de
Facebook: http://facebook.com/tomfountainheadgeldschlaeger
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changeling.official
Bandcamp: https://changelingofficial.bandcamp.com/
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/4MbRUvwQcEBzryOhWMHkvV
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/changeling/294821510
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/fountainheadtv
Booking Contact:
Tom Fountainhead
thefountainhead@gmx.net
Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Crystal Clear w/ Red Splatters
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - White w/ Red Splatters