AETHER REALM Releases Third New Track and Video,"Guardian"

New Album, Redneck Vikings From Hell, out May 1 via Napalm Records

Pre-Order NOW

Melodic death metal masters AETHER REALM recently announced the upcoming release of their mind-boggling upcoming full-length album, Redneck Vikings From Hell, out May 1, 2020 via Napalm Records. With their new album, the band improves upon their already distinctive sound that’s been astonishing fans since day one – taking listeners on a stupefying rollercoaster ride of death metal, thrash and even neo-classical shred.

Today, AETHER REALM has revealed a third single from Redneck Vikings From Hell – the cinematic, introspective ballad, "Guardian". The track cements the band's versed songwriting talents, proving just how undeniably multi-talented AETHER REALM is. Its stunning accompanying visualizer video's concept and animation were created by CHURCH GRiM (@churchgrimart).

Frontman Vincent "Jake" Jones says about the track: 

"Sometimes you write a song because it’s the song you want to hear, but sometimes you write a song because it’s the song you need.

I wound up living on a couch most of the time this album was being put together. For a lot of that time, it was uncertain whether I was on the “right” path – whether I was wasting my friends' and my own time pursuing music as hard as we were. One night I was feeling particularly down, and I just started writing the things I wished someone would say to me in that moment. I felt a little better afterwards. I hope it’ll do that for someone else who needs it." 

Checkout the bands new videos below:

"Goodbye"

"Slave to the Riff"

Redneck Vikings From Hell not only cements AETHER REALM as a band to watch, but will also have listeners questioning just what exactly they can’t do. Each track on Redneck Vikings From Hell is entirely distinct, setting the stage by playing upon the band’s southern roots with the banjo-laden epic folk metal-inspired title track “Redneck Vikings From Hell”. Meanwhile, the first single “Goodbye” and center-cuts like the thrashy, unwavering “Lean Into The Wind”, the powerful anthem “Hunger” and symphonic brutality banger “Slave To The Riff” provide a weightier sample of the unconventional stylings of AETHER REALM 3.0. Otherworldly closing track “Craft And The Creator” drives it all home, showcasing each individual band member's infallible technical skills and featuring hair-raising leads that would make any guitar god blush. The album is strung together by colossal orchestral elements that lift the band to new heights.

In addition to being produced and mixed by Kile Odell (Motionless in White, Cane Hill), mastered by Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me, The Contortionist, Scale The Summit) and featuring orchestration by Ben Turk of Gloryhammer, Redneck Vikings From Hell features a treasure trove of fantastic special musical guests, including guitarist/banjoist Wayne Ingram (Wilderun), guitarist Greg Burgess (Allegaeon), Eric W. Brown (Nekrogoblikon, Vale of Pnath, Swashbuckle, Rainbowdragoneyes) and vocalist Josh Rieke of YouTube fame. The album also features contributions from voice actress Erica Lindbeck (Final Fantasy VII remake), harpist Amy Turk (sister of Ben Turk), vocalist Michael Rumple (Ashen Idol, Flood District), vocalist Zach Williams (Dead Eyes) and returning AETHER REALM guest vocalist and sister of Vincent "Jake" Jones, Elly Jones.

Pre-Order Redneck Vikings From Hell HERE!

Redneck Vikings From Hell not only cements AETHER REALM as a band to watch, but will also have listeners questioning just what exactly they can’t do. Each track on Redneck Vikings From Hell is entirely distinct, setting the stage by playing upon the band’s southern roots with the banjo-laden epic folk metal-inspired title track “Redneck Vikings From Hell”. Meanwhile, the first single “Goodbye” and center-cuts like the thrashy, unwavering “Lean Into The Wind”, the powerful anthem “Hunger” and symphonic brutality banger “Slave To The Riff” provide a weightier sample of the unconventional stylings of AETHER REALM 3.0. Otherworldly closing track “Craft And The Creator” drives it all home, showcasing each individual band member's infallible technical skills and featuring hair-raising leads that would make any guitar god blush. The album is strung together by colossal orchestral elements that lift the band to new heights.

Redneck Vikings From Hell will be available in the following formats:

- 1 CD Digipak

- LP Gatefold BLACK

- Digital Album

- 100 Piece Exclusive Napalm Gold Vinyl

AETHER REALM is:

Vincent "Jake" Jones – bass, vocals               

Heinrich Arnold – guitar, vocals                    

Tyler Gresham – drums                     

Donny Burbage – guitar       

More Info:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

NAPALM RECORDS

REVENGE Premiere New Single

Extreme black metal titans REVENGE have released "Self Segregation (System Torched)," the second new single from their upcoming full-length, 'Strike.Smother.Dehumanize.' The album is out on May 22 via Season of Mist Underground Activists! "
Pre-sales for 'Strike.Smother.Dehumanize' are available HERE.

Canadian Chaos Black Metal extremists REVENGE return with 'Strike.Smother.Dehumanize', the follow up to their 2015 album 'Behold.Total.Rejection'. With 'Behold.Total.Rejection', the band caused a stir in the underground scene by signing to Season of Mist. In what many saw as an unorthodox move by both band and label, it caused long-time fans and critics alike to speculate on the outcome. Upon the release of 'Behold.Total.Rejection', the Canadians proved all who had questioned this unexpected alliance wrong, by releasing one of the most successful and over the top albums in their discography. 

Being called complete noise by some, and total genius by others, these polarized views continue to be worn by the band as a badge of honor. After the recording and subsequent release of 'Behold.Total.Rejection', REVENGE wasted no time systematically destroying the festival atmosphere at metal fests around the world and laying waste to stages in North America and Europe touring with the likes of WATAIN, DESTRÖYER 666, MAYHEM, SHINING and MGLA to name a few.

The smoke has now cleared from the rubble, and it is time to smother the fallen with another wave of Chaotic Black Metal in the Canadian tradition with the release of the band's forthcoming sixth full length album, 'Strike.Smother.Dehumanize'. Already being hailed as their most compelling work to date, 'Strike.Smother.Dehumanize' is a show of force that positions REVENGE at the top of the extremist black metal food chain. Continuing to maintain the lone wolf self segregation stance that has served the band well since day one, REVENGE has once again unapologetically refused to let any musical or ideologically alien influences infiltrate and poison the original intent upon which its foundations were built. 

On 'Strike.Smother.Dehumanize', J. Read has eclipsed all past releases. With an extremely potent and organic production, lightning speed, chaotic song structures and razor sharp vocals delivered with unparalleled conviction the black metal outfit has constructed a manifesto of self ascension, absolute hatred of organized religion, and total contempt for the enslaved modern man that feeds at the trough of mediocrity with every waking breath. The destruction and rebuilding of humanity is the only cure for the cancer known as mankind. No Scene No Brotherhood No Remorse.

Line-up:
J. Read - all music and lyrics

Recording line-up:
J. Read - Drums -Vocals - Effects
Vermin - Session Guitar - Bass - Effects 

Live Line-up: 
J. Read - Drums
Vermin - Guitar -Vocals
Haasiophis -Bass - Vocals

Pre-orders: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/revenge-SSD

For more on REVENGE, visit the band's official FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and BANDCAMP.

Pray For Sleep Announces May 1 Digital Release Of Behind Our Eyes & May 15 Virtual Rally With Prevention Action Alliance To Promote Mental Health Awareness Month

Hard Rock Group From Columbus, Ohio Uses Music To

Raise Awareness Of Youth Mental & Behavioral Health 

Through Their “Scream Back” Program With Educational Partner On Our Sleeves™, 

A National Platform Spearheaded by

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

“We are not alone.” In a nation full of young people feeling increasingly isolated and hopeless, it’s a powerful message. It’s also the driving force behind Columbus, Ohio-based band Pray For Sleep, who aims to be a positive influence in the hard rock genre. Today, the on-the-rise band announces a series of activities for May to promote mental health awareness month. 

On May 1, Pray For Sleep will self-issue the digital release of their debut album, Behind Our Eyes, which aims to bolster a generation racked by anxiety, depression and suicide with a message of solidarity and a cathartic roar on 10 powerful songs. The digital release features two unreleased tracks—“Blood Is Not Blue” and “Off Track”—as well as a new acoustic version of anchor single “Scream Back.”

“Scream Back” shares the name with the group’s initiative addressing mental health issues plaguing the nation’s youth. Established in November 2019, the Scream Back program aligns the band members—vocalist Grant DeCrane, 23; drummer Reno Houston, 20; and guitarist Hayden Kissler, 19—with the educational messaging of Nationwide Children's Hospital's On Our Sleeves™ movement, as well as Columbus’ active rock radio station 99.7 The Blitz (WRKZ) and SJC Custom Drums.

Scream Back largely utilizes in-school appearances to deliver peer messaging and personal stories that challenge fellow young people to have an open dialogue about mental health. Most recently, that includes Pray For Sleep promoting On Our Sleeves™ resources for helping teens and kids through the COVID-19 crisis, as seen here: https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/giving/on-our-sleeves/find-help/tools-for-you/coronavirus

In addition to contributing all proceeds from their first headlining show to On Our Sleeves™, Pray For Sleep also submitted their lyrics to the hospital’s mental health experts for their input prior to the release.

Next month, Pray For Sleep will also perform “Scream Back” as part of the annual “We Are The Majority Rally” that brings thousands of young people together to promote the idea that most youth choose not to do drugs and instead are making responsible decisions. For the first time this year, the statewide Ohio rally will go virtual and invites youth across the country to participate. It will be held as part of National Prevention Week on May 15 at 5:00 pm ET, hosted by the Prevention Action Alliance with support from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services as well as the Ohio Governor’s Office. More details about the event, including how to sign up and where to watch, will be posted at https://preventionactionalliance.org/watm-rally/. 

Of the digital release for Behind Our Eyes, drummer Reno Houston says, "We know that everyone has been stuck inside and could be dealing with mental health issues (like all of us in the band), and we hope that releasing these songs will let people know that ‘We Are Not Alone.’ This is especially important with the COVID-19 situation and May being Mental Behavioral Health month. We hope people know there are resources out there and hopefully we can help shine some light on a dark situation.”

Adds vocalist Grant DeCrane, "We're so excited to be able to release the album in its entirety. We want people to hear the whole message, and we want to know what people think of the project. We started working on it a year-and-a-half ago so it’s wonderful to finally see it all come together after so much work and time."

Behind Our Eyes marks the band’s debut album and is a follow-up to their self-titled EP in 2017 that followed a whirlwind of events, which led to the band’s formation. That same year, rock band Papa Roach had invited Columbus’ Olentangy Orange High School Marching Band to be part of Papa Roach’s performance of hit single “Born For Greatness”at the Rock On The Range festival. Hayden Kissler was one of the marching band members who got the chance to be on stage for the performance. Soon after, he and friends Reno Houston and Grant DeCrane started Pray For Sleep. 

The band returned to the Rock On The Range stage in 2018 where they hand one of their earliest performances, with several members missing out on their high school graduation to participate in the memorable moment. After spending their teenage years finding solace in heavy music, shouting along with bands like fellow Ohioans Beartooth as well as Bring Me The Horizon, Pray For Sleep has since shared the stage with We Came As Romans, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Silent Planet, Fit For A King, and Counterfeit.

For more information on Pray For Sleep visit:

https://www.prayforsleep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/prayforsleepband/
https://www.instagram.com/prayforsleepband/
https://twitter.com/prayforsleepbnd

For information or to get involved with Scream Back, please visit:

https://www.screamback.org/

To learn more about the On Our Sleeves™ movement visit: https://www.OnOurSleeves.org

Michael Abdow Premieres New Video For “Heavy Drifter”

New Album “Heart Signal” Out Next Friday April 24th

“Heart Signal” is the fourth studio album from American guitarist/composer Michael Abdow.  His latest effort, is comprised of eight new pieces, spanning 44 minutes and features fretless bassist Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder, Whitesnake) and drummer Shawn Deneault (Santa Mamba).  “Heart Signal” will be released on April 24th and is now available for pre-order on CD and digitally from https://www.michaelabdow.com/.  

“‘Heavy Drifter’ is one of the more technical songs from the album and is destined for our live set. The accompanying philosophy is ‘Wherever you go, drift with the weight of your experience in the moment; leaving no trace but what you contribute to return.’ For this video, we worked with David Brodsky and Allison Woest at My Good Eye: Music Visuals (Fates Warning, Queensrÿche, Arch/Matheos), says Abdow of the video.

Best known for his work with Fates Warning and Ray Alder, Michael had this to say about his most recent offering: “‘Heart Signal,’ as the title might suggest, aims to create a moment in each song that grips the listener and invokes an emotional response.”

For More Info Visit:

https://www.michaelabdow.com

https://www.facebook.com/MichaelAbdow

https://www.instagram.com/michael_abdow/

https://michaelabdow.bandcamp.com/

https://michaelabdow.bigcartel.com/

WOLFHEART Releases Performance Video for New Track "Reaper"

Footage Cut From Exclusive Virtual Concert

New Album, Wolves Of Karelia, out NOW via Napalm Records | Order HERE

Last week, Finnish heavy melodic death metal band WOLFHEART released their latest full-length masterpiece, Wolves Of Karelia, via Napalm Records. Quickly following up on the album's successful release, the band has revealed a brand new video for the melodic head-swinger "Reaper". The video footage is cut from the band's exclusive multi-cam virtual concert, which was delivered to "virtual ticket" buyers last Thursday. Get a sample of the concert and witness "Reaper" below.

WOLFHEART frontman Tuomas Saukkonen says about the track and video:

"Footage for the video is taken from our exclusive virtual gig with few added camera angles. It was a very different experience and made us miss our fans in the flesh more than ever. Counting the days until we get back on the road, but in the meantime, the true meaning of the song fits well for this moment as well, as the whole world is battling against the virus." 

"Facing an enemy

Greater in numbers

Superior in arms 

Facing an enemy

Overpowering and grandeur

Superior in arms

But never in heart"

Just as wildlife itself maintains harmony with a violent clash of beauty and unpredictability, Wolves Of Karelia explores the band’s previously coined genre of “winter metal” – smoothly bridging a traditional approach of extreme genres while maintaining atmospheric and acoustic elements. 

The album’s lyrical and musical content is inspired by the Winter War waged between Russia and the band’s native country, Finland, which took place during the winter of November 1939-March 1940. Finland ultimately managed to stop the Russian troops from invading their country. WOLFHEART mastermind and frontman Tuomas Saukkonen was inspired by the personal stories of local veterans, conveying the tales of what they experienced and survived from their perspectives. Somber, frostbitten and heroic, Wolves Of Karelia portrays these tales with stunning musical precision.

Watch Wolfheart Videos Below: 

"Ashes"

"Hail of Steel"

"The Hammer"

Wolves of Karelia Tracklist:

1. Hail Of Steel

2. Horizon On Fire

3. Reaper

4. The Hammer

5. Eye Of The Storm

6. Born From Fire

7. Arrows Of Chaos

8. Ashes

Wolves of Karelia is available in the following formats:

- 4 Page Digipack

- Digital Album

- Shirt & Digipack

- Black LP Sleeve

- Silver LP Sleeve - limited to 100 copies

Order Wolves of Karelia NOW!

WOLFHEART will hit the road in North America early next year on their rescheduled Devastation on the Nation tour dates with Rotting Christ, Borknagar, Abigail Williams andImperial Triumphant! See below for all currently confirmed dates.

WOLFHEART Rescheduled 2021 North American Tour Dates:

Devastation on the Nation tour

w/ Rotting Christ, Borknagar, Abigail Williams and Imperial Triumphant

2/11 - Berkeley, CA - Cornerstone

2/12 - Portland, OR - Bossanova Ballroom

2/13 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre

2/14 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon

2/16 - Salt Lake City, UT - Metro Music Hall

2/17 - Denver, CO - The Roxy Theater

2/18 - Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room

2/19 - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theatre

2/20 - Chicago, IL  - Reggies

2/21 - Detroit, MI - Sanctuary

2/23 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club

2/24 - Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques

2/25 - Quebec City, QC - Le D'Auteuil

2/26 - Manchester, NH - Jewel

2/27 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus Bar

2/28 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar

3/02 - Pittsburgh, PA - Spirit Hall

3/03 - Lexington, KY - Cosmic Charlies

3/04 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle

3/05 - Birmingham, AL - Zydeco

3/06 - Tampa, FL - The Orpheum

3/07 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (Hell)

3/08 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall

3/09 - Fort Worth, TX - Rail Club Live

3/10 - Austin, TX - Come and Take It Live

3/11 - El Paso, TX - Rockhouse Bar

3/12 - Phoenix, AZ - Club Red

3/13 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick

3/14 - Los Angeles, CA - 1720

WOLFHEART is:

Tuomas Saukkonen: Guitar, Vocals

Joonas Kauppinen: Drums

Lauri Silvonen: Bass, Backing Vocals

Vagelis Karzis: Session Guitar

More info:

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

NAPALM RECORDS

TOMBS Share Previously Unreleased Live Music, "Abraxas Ritual: Live In Chicago"

While concerts might currently be on hiatus, you can still experience the live fury of Brooklyn metal formation TOMBS! The band has just dropped previously unreleased live tracks from a 2019 set in Chicago, IL, which was recorded by Spenser Morris on June 17, 2019 at Livewire Lounge. "Abraxas Ritual: Live in Chicago" features four live cuts and is available to stream or purchase now via Bandcamp at THIS LOCATION.

'Monarchy of Shadows' was released on February 28 via Season of Mist, making it the band's debut to the label! The album can be heard in its entirety HERE and purchased HERE.

See what the press is saying about 'Monarchy of Shadows' below:

"Frenetic, lively and grandiose black metal colors the EP's six tracks. 'Monarchy of Shadows' references the brooding, down-tempo nature of 'The Grand Annihilation' at times; however, there is a more visceral, fast, full-frontal assault this time around that finds the band continuing to grasp at an ethereal spirit." - Blabbermouth

"The six tracks on Monarchy Of Shadows are ripping, diabolic odes to darkness that drink heavily from the same chalice as Watain, with razor-wire guitar melodies sticking jaggedly out the top..." - Kerrang

"The music has changed in small and large ways from album to album, but Tombs is one of those bands you just need to listen to, because the intensity is unwavering, and the evolution never seems to have taken any wrong turns." - No Clean Singing 

"The black metal parts on this one are especially blackened and whiplash-inducing, but as is usually the case with Tombs, the album can’t be pinned down to just one sound. It also takes clear influence from goth and post-punk and Swans, and Tombs fuse those sounds with black metal pretty seamlessly." - Brooklyn Vegan

If you are looking for some further entertainment during isolation, TOMBSmainman Mike Hill is the host/producer/creator of the Everything Went Blackpodcast as well as the host and producer of Gimme Radio’s Metal Mattersflagship podcast. Episodes of Metal Matters can be heard HERE.

Line-Up:
Mike Hill – guitar / vocals
Justin Spaeth – drums /electronics
Drew Murphy – bass / vocals
Matt Medieiros – guitar / vocals

Guest Musicians:
Mike Goncalves – guest vocals on “Path of Totality (Midnight Sun)”
Ben Karas – strings on “The Dark Rift”
Terence Hannum – synth on “Monarchy of Shadows”

Studio: Frightbox Recording (Passaic, NJ, U.S.A.)

Producer/Sound Engineer/Mixing Studio Engineer: Bobby Torres

Mastering studio engineer: Alan Douches @ West West Side Music

Cover Art: Valnoir

Biography: Kevin Stewart-Panko

For more on TOMBS, visit their official FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and BANDCAMP.

The cover artwork for 'Monarchy of Shadows,' which was created by Valnoir, 

MAGNUS KARLSSON'S FREE FALL RELEASE NEW VIDEO FOR "QUEEN OF FIRE" FEATURING NOORA LOUHIMO OF BATTLEBEAST

'WE ARE THE NIGHT' OUT MAY 8, 2020 ON FRONTIERS MUSIC SRL

FEATURES APPEARANCES FROM NOORA LOUHIMO, DINO JELUSICK, TONY MARTIN, & MORE

Heavy metal guitarist, songwriter, and producer Magnus Karlsson has announced the third album, "We Are The Night" from his solo project Magnus Karlsson's Free Fall. It will be released on May 8, 2020 via Frontiers Music Srl. As with the prior two Free Fall releases, "We Are The Night" features an exciting array of guest vocalists taking the lead on tracks throughout the album. 

Today a video for the song "Queen of Fire" featuring Battle Beast vocalist Noora Louhimo has been released. Check it out HERE: https://youtu.be/fEg44Pfy0Mk

Stream the singles and pre-order/save "We Are The Night" HERE: https://orcd.co/wearethenight

For this new album, “We Are The Night”, Magnus again enlisted a dream team of singers featuring some of the strongest melodic singers in metal and hard rock. The list includes the awesome Noora Louhimo (BATTLE BEAST), Dino Jelusick (ANIMAL DRIVE, DIRTY SHIRLEY), Ronnie Romero (RAINBOW), the newest vocal star on the Frontiers’ label, Renan Zonta (ELECTRIC MOB), Tony Martin (MOLLO/MARTIN, ex-BLACK SABBATH), and Mike Andersson (CLOUDSCAPE). Rounding out the line-up on the album is Anders Kollerfors on drums. Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Primal Fear, Amaranthe, Pretty Maids, etc.) mixed. 

This is an absolute beast of a release which can’t be missed by anyone who loves melodic European metal!

Magnus Karlsson is well known as the mastermind behind several Frontiers productions, including the successful initial Allen/Lande trilogy and the recent spin-off album, Allen/Olzon as well as releases by Starbreaker (with Tony Harnell), Bob Catley, and Kiske/Somerville. In 2008, he joined German heavy metal icons Primal Fear and with them has toured the world and recorded several successful albums which charted in multiple countries around the globe.

In 2013, he launched his solo project “Free Fall” which was warmly received by the numerous fans of the Swedish mastermind and showcased Magnus’ songwriting and production skills with lead vocals provided by a varied cast of some the finest singers in metal and hard rock.

Line-up:

Magnus Karlsson - Guitars, Bass, Keyboard, And Vocals

Anders Köllerfors - Drums

Vocals: 

• Dino Jelusick

• Renan Zonta

• Noora Louhimo

• Mike Andersson

• Ronnie Romero

• Tony Martin

For More Info Visit:

https://www.facebook.com/MAGNUSKARLSSONOFFICIAL/

https://www.instagram.com/magnuskarlssonguitar/

ABYSMAL DAWN Announces Virtual 'Phylogenesis' Listening Party

Los Angeles' death metal masters ABYSMAL DAWN will be hosting a worldwide virtual listening party for their new album, 'Phylogenesis,' which will take place tomorrow, April 14, @ 11:00 A.M. PDT // 2:00 P.M. // 20:00 CEST. All four members of the band will be present for a live Q&A during the stream. You can tune in at THIS LOCATION.

ABYSMAL DAWN comments: "Unfortunately, our listening parties in NYC and Los Angeles had to be cancelled for obvious and understandable reasons. To try and make up for it, we’ll be hosting a live stream of our new album and virtual Q&A with the band on Tuesday. So if you’re going a little stir crazy, let’s listen to some metal and have a bit of fun."

ICYMI: ABYSMAL DAWN has scored the cover of Issue #52 of New Noise Magazine! Along with an in-depth interview with mainman Charles Elliott, the issue will also feature an exclusive flexi disc of the band's never-before-heard cover of CANDLEMASS' "Bewitched," which will be made available digitally at a later date. The cover is designed by Par Olofsson.

Speaking about the upcoming issue and the choice to cover CANDLEMASS, Elliott comments:

"We're incredibly honored to be on the over of New Noise Magazine. In all my years doing this, I think this is the first time we've been given the prime cover slot of any publication. I'm really happy to see all the excitement around the release of Phylogenesis and all the positive feedback we've been getting so far. It makes me proud after all the hard work that was put into this record.

"So, as an added bonus, New Noise is putting out our cover version of the doom metal classic, "Bewitched" by Candlemass. We had some free time in the studio while putting together Phylogenesis and decided to do something totally out of the box for us. I don't think many of our fans would think Candlemass are an influence of ours but they are. It's nowhere near the realm of tech-death or brutal death metal but Nightfall is one of my favorite albums and it's an amazing record! 

"Now the biggest shocker here is that I laid down some melodic vocals for this one. I don't pretend to be Messiah Marcolin but I gave it my best. I tried to maintain my own voice while paying tribute to the overall vibe of the original. I wasn't sure I could do it at first, but after showing the track to some friends and having the rest of the band excited about it, we decided we weren't making total asses of ourselves. It's a fun track and I think Vito killed it on the lead as well. Enjoy!" 

Subscribe to New Noise or pre-order Issue #52 HERE.

ABYSMAL DAWN previously released "The Path of the Totalitarian," the second single from their forthcoming fifth studio album, 'Phylogenesis.' The song is available along with an accompanying 360°  visualizer at THIS LOCATION.

'Phylogenesis' is the first new music from ABYSMAL DAWN in six years! The record is out on April 17 via Season of Mist, making it the band's debut to the label. Pre-order it HERE.

American death metal masters Abysmal Dawn are back! After a six-year gap, the Los Angeles-based outfit and Season of Mist hereby present Phylogenesis. Not that Abysmal Dawn have laid low since the release of 2014’s lauded Obsolescence full-length. Far from it. They toured North America four times and hit Europe and South America for the first time. Meanwhile, founding member Charles Elliott opened his studio, Tastemaker Audio, to accelerate Abysmal Dawn's own recording needs, as well to act as a bridge to other bands in need of a knowledgeable and relatable audio technician. But the road to Phylogenesis wasn’t an easy one. Besides work-horsing it throughout the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Brazil, Chile, and beyond in support of Obsolescence, Elliott and crew managed through some of the lowest points in Abysmal Dawn’s career. Internal strife, administrative burdens, musical differences, and motivation all had their various ways with the Californians. Yet, from the darkest depths, they prevailed, heralding a new chapter in the group’s storied history. Indeed, Phylogenesis is Abysmal Dawn’s rebirth!

“There was a brief period after doing two months of touring back-to-back in the U.S. and Europe in 2015 that I almost felt like calling it quits,” Abysmal Dawn’s Charles Elliott says. "It was our first time in Europe and I just had a hard time enjoying it. The band had grown, and I was a bit tired of having to handle most of the managerial aspects of what we do. The joy had been ripped from things and people weren't getting along, and some people acted like they didn't want to be there. But we went our separate ways with some of the members and all of a sudden, the band was fun again. They went on to other things and we're probably all happier in the end. Sometimes, I feel it's a miracle this album or band even still exists. I've avoided swearing on our records in the past, but the album's opening line is actually, 'Fuck you all!' Maybe it's primitive by our past lyrical standards but it's genuine and it's the most heartfelt, ‘Fuck you, we’re still here’ I could put on a record. I’m glad we stuck it out because I think this is our proudest moment so far.”

To say Phylogenesis is an extension or continuation of Obsolescence isn’t exactly as straightforward as it should be. On one hand, all the Abysmal Dawn trademarks—technicality, brutality, and melody—remain ingrained in the songwriting fabric. On the other, the band’s fifth full-length is more cohesive, rhythmically sophisticated, and far more adventurous. Elliott calls it “a major evolution.” Certainly, the six years of constant refinement, edge smoothing, and transition adjustments have paid off. What started as jam sessions between Elliott, bassist Eliseo Garcia, and drummer James Coppolino in 2016 eventually turned into one-offs. That there was no time limit to put Phylogenesis together ended up both a blessing and a curse. Total creative freedom at very little expense is a dream scenario, something a band of Abysmal Dawn’s stature took advantage of for their magnum opus. But without a ticking clock and dollars burning, the pressure to focus was far less severe, resulting in delays and feature creep.

“It was basically James, Eliseo and me meeting up at my place, jamming on ideas, seeing what worked and tweaking them from there,” says Elliott. “With the exception of ‘Hedonistic,’ James wrote all his drum parts. Obsolescence was demoed with me programming all the drums since our drummer at the time had moved up north. It was what it was, but it was pretty frustrating at the time. Having someone to bounce ideas off of in real-time, helped in maintaining the joy and momentum of making this album. Once it was time to record bass and leads, Eliseo and Vito [Petroni; guitars] would trickle in when they had ideas. We had no real deadline and seemingly infinite time to do things. Admittedly, I think it was hard for me to focus on the lyrics, not only because of things in my personal life but because I was focused on getting the guys in to complete their parts so I could focus.”

Finish Phylogenesis they did, in fact. Under significant duress, Abysmal Dawn had overcome their roadblocks. The results of the group’s undulating professional and personal schedules aren’t to be trifled with, however. Opening track “Mundane Existence” is a firestorm of labyrinthine yet savage riffs, enraged vocals, and machine-gun drumming. It’s death metal personified, enlightened, and perfected. Elsewhere, tracks such as “The Path of the Totalitarian,” “A Speck in the Fabric of Eternity,” and “Soul-Sick Nation” (feat. Fredrik Folkare of Unleashed, Firespawn, et al.) pose real threats to the status quo. In all three, Elliott’s passion for and dominance of death metal’s tenets are tangible. But there’s more to Abysmal Dawn on Phylogenesis than customary ritual. From the ruthless groove of “Hedonistic” and the staccato stabs of “Coerced Evolution” to the late album gem “The Lament Configuration” and the blistering cover of Death classic “Flattening of Emotion,” the songs are designed to slay in ways we’re just beginning to understand.

“We’re a pretty brutal death metal band, but what I feel like sets us apart is that no matter what we do there’s always some underlying sense of melody and hooks,” Elliott says. “There are lots of bands that are ridiculously brutal. There are lots of bands that are over-the-top technically or are blatantly melodic. We combine all that but we try to write something that sticks with you over time; that you'll keep coming back to, and that works well in the live environment. We love all types of music, whether it's fusion or industrial music, and it shines through here and there. But in the end, though, we're a pure death metal band at heart trying to retain that old-school feel with an updated take for a new generation.”

Conceptually, Phylogenesis deals with the breakdown of social constructs humans have built over time. The album title is defined by the evolution of (or diversification) a species. So, Phylogenesis is an ironic take on Elliott’s observations, particularly how social media has accelerated and exacerbated the de-evolution of humanity’s interactive abilities. The cover art, again by Swedish artist Pär Olofsson, isn’t directly correlated to the lyrical narrative, but it does continue where Obsolescence left off. The Olofsson cover art has envisioned what it’s like on the inside of the Obsolescence tower, and that it’s humans that are being fed back to humans. The cover art continuity is akin to Richard Fleischer’s famed Soylent Greenfilm but ripped through Elliott’s demented death metal lens.

“I think the lyrics deal a lot with things we encounter in our modern society and the effect it has on the individual,” says Elliott. “The dehumanization effect and divisiveness caused by bickering on social media (‘The Path of the Totalitarian’), the decay of legitimate journalism (‘True to the Blind’), struggling to find purpose in the pursuit of happiness (‘Hedonistic’), wishing something was greater than yourself (‘Mundane Existence’), the mental illness epidemic (‘Soul-Sick Nation’), embracing pain over numbness to feel alive (‘The Lament Configuration’), having our consciousnesses uploaded to a grid in order to make life sustainable on Earth (‘Coerced Evolution’), and the common theme throughout the band of wishing life on Earth would just start over (‘A Speck in the Fabric of Eternity’). I had started off wanting it to be a concept record but later scrapped that idea because I didn't like how it was going. In the end though, it just naturally all tied together in some way. Even the Death cover seemed to fit lyrically in hindsight. ‘Coerced Evolution’ is really the only song that in the sci-fi vein this time around. As for Pär, yes, he did the cover art once again. We love working with him and we’ve been creating great covers with him since 2006.”

Abysmal Dawn recorded Phylogenesis over a multi-year timeframe. In fact, Coppolino’s drums were tracked as far back as 2017 with long-time collaborator John Haddad at Trench Studios. The rhythm guitars and vocals, as produced by Mike Bear and Elliott, were also done at Tastemaker Audio the same year. So, some of Phylogenesis goes back, but the parts are no less lethal. Slowly but surely, the group’s newest and greatest materialized, with Elliott finishing the lead guitars, bass, additional vocals, re-amping, and mixing sessions in 2019, again at Tastemaker Audio. Abysmal Dawn then packaged up their fifth for mastering ace Tony Lindgren (Rotting Christ) to handle at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden. Contemporary yet absolutely remorseless, Abysmal Dawn’s Phylogenesis is death metal for a new age.

“We took our time and went to few studios this time around, so it’s a bit of a laundry list,” Elliott says. “John Haddad engineered the drums at Trench Studios. John has been involved with all our records in some form since From Ashes. Mike Bear helped track and produce the vast majority of my vocals and rhythm guitars out of my studio. Mike produced both Leveling the Plane of Existence (2010) and Obsolescence. I tracked and produced all the leads, bass parts, and other odds and ends and mixed the album as well. Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios mastered the record in the end.”

As for Abysmal Dawn’s next steps, the quartet await the release of Phylogenesis. With past support coming from the Village Voice, Decibel, PopMatters, and Pandora, as well as the group's rabidly-devoted fanbase, the future of death metal is in good hands.

Lineup:
Charles Elliott: guitars, vocals
Eliseo Garcia: bass, additional vocals
James Coppolino: drums
Vito Petroni: guitars

BEYOND THE BLACK Releases New Single and Lyric Video for “Golden Pariahs”

BEYOND THE BLACK Releases New Single and Lyric Video for “Golden Pariahs”

New Album Hørizøns To Be Released On June 19th!

On Co-Headline Tour With Amaranthe This Winter 2020!

Pre-Order Hørizøns HERE 

Today symphonic metal outfit BEYOND THE BLACK presents their new single, “Golden Pariahs”, off their upcoming album, Hørizøns, to be released via Napalm Records on June 19, 2020.

An echoing symbiosis of brutal drums and major electronic influences inflames the quintessence of “Golden Pariahs”: Their new epos explodes in an intoxicating fusion of Jennifer Haben’s striking, exceptional vocals, highly-clocked drums and another facet of the quintet’s multifarious spectra. BEYOND THE BLACK rises with sonorous, energetic severity and bittersweet elements. The vigorous soundscape is coupled with the song’s strong message and sets the characteristic sign to fight, even in dark times. BEYOND THE BLACK prove their versatile musical identity once again and that the modern blend of melodic rock and metal is flowing through their veins.

“Golden Pariahs” is a high voltage stunner and a melodic hymn for all the erroneously underdogs to defeat their inner demons. Pull us under, hear the thunder!

Jennifer Haben on the new album: 

“With 2019 having been the biggest year in our career as a band so far, we were thrilled and anxious to get back to the studio and start writing again – not just to make up to the fast and amazing development that has happened in the band since our last album, but to pin this development down also musically for everyone to hear and see. Hørizøns is unmistakably a BEYOND THE BLACK album, but with so many new facets and personality adding up to the classic BEYOND THE BLACK ID that make it a true band-album. For us this has definitely been a walk on the tightrope and we feel to have it accomplished to its fullest. Without beating around the bush, we can say that we're extremely proud and confident that Hørizøns is the best BEYOND THE BLACK album to date.“

The female fronted quintet unbolts their unequalled, differentiated spectra of symphonic and melodic rock spiced with sonorous melodious metal soundscapes in 13 manifold songs. The album kicks off with its heavy, yet atmospheric title track, spanning the range of intumescent soundscapes and Jennifer Haben’s crystal clear, striking vocals. Beautiful yet strong harmonies, emotional storytelling and powerful vocal lines weave throughout “Wounded Healer” (feat. Elize Rhyde off Amaranthe) and will light your way in gloomy times. Dark subliminal grooves coalesce with harmonizing guitar lines and form the prevailing nexus of “Human” and it’s unmistakably catchy chorus. Another facet rises with “You Are Not Alone”, which is dominated by electronic influences as well as symphonic sounding violins. Hørizøns’ atmospherically dark harshness creates the stylistic bow over the distinctive melodic rock meets pop sound in symbiosis with fragile yet strong fragments. The charismatic outfit persuades with a rousing, emotional clout and their strong, confident message off self-assertion.