Chicago metal legends Aftermath have unveiled a new version of their critically praised 2019 concept album with the release of There is Something Wrong – Redacted. This leaner, more direct version of the record features eight songs, omitting the intros, interludes, and outros.
Released 25 years after their groundbreaking debut Eyes of Tomorrow, There is Something Wrong marked Aftermath’s return with a bold and disturbing message—one that challenged listeners to confront uncomfortable truths. The album’s dark themes and intense lyrical content proved polarizing at the time of its release.
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 is a dark concept album meant to disturb the listener.
"Back in 2019, the lyrics and concept were too much for some listeners, but for some that feeling has changed since Covid. Regardless, we always intended on releasing a version with only the songs," says the band.
The Redacted edition strips the album down to its core—eight explosive tracks delivered without preamble. It offers a new way to experience the raw energy and pointed social commentary that define There is Something Wrong.
There is Something Wrong – Redacted is available now exclusively on all streaming services here: https://ffm.to/aftermath-tisw-redacted
Currently, the band is in the studio recording their fourth studio album. Aftermath promises to deliver 11 tracks of pure, uncompromising metal.
The band states, "We are excited to be back in the studio. We can’t wait for everyone to hear this album. It’s heavy, it’s catchy, and in typical Aftermath fashion it sounds totally different from our previous albums."
The new album is being recorded at Electrowerks Recording, with engineering and mixing by Chuck Macak. Additional details, including the album title, tracklist, and release date, will be announced in the coming months.
Chicago based Aftermath, fronted by Kyriakos "Charlie" Tsiolis, formed in October 1985 when Charlie and his schoolmate Steve Sacco (Guitar) got together. This early incarnation with Adam (Bass) and Ray Schmidt (Drums) released their first demo in 1986 featuring “Sentenced to Death”, “Revenge”, “Shotgun” and “The Aftermath”.
In 1987, they unleashed their second demo entitled Killing the Future featuring the tracks “When Will You Die”, “Going No Place”, “Chaos”, “Meltdown” and “War for Freedom”. The band pursued a mind-blowing speed and technical brand of thrash that soon set them apart from the pack and in the process made them a pioneering crossover thrash band.
The tracks "War for Freedom" & "When Will You Die" were both featured on the British Metal Forces magazine_compilation LP Demolition: Scream Your Brains Out in 1988. Their appearance on the Metal Forces compilation further expanded the band's international appeal.
In 2020, Aftermath released a re-imagined version of the John Lennon classic, "Give Peace a Chance". The song was remixed and remastered for the new album and included on the record because of the message.
“John Lennon’s urgent call for peace in Give Peace a Chance is more important today than ever, and our call for peace with this cover is the perfect message to follow up our previous album. We released a dark concept album with a bleak message and felt it was important to follow that up with something positive. The visuals in the video are as important as the lyrics in a way. We live in a visual world today and this video needed to get out the message of HOPE. Having a young girl be the focus of the video was our way of getting that across. Seeing only positive acts when she puts on Lennon’s famous glasses was the perfect visual metaphor. Lennon’s message is transmitted not only through his lyrics but also through the perspective created by his unique lenses” says the band.
The video was directed by critically acclaimed video director Steven Nathan in New York City.
Aftermath unleashed their highly awaited masterpiece, No Time to Waste, through Zoid Entertainment/TLG/INgrooves on March 17, 2023. This release stands as the triumphant conclusion to a powerful trilogy, representing a notable departure from the somber tones of its predecessor.
In an exclusive statement, Kyriakos "Charlie" Tsiolis shared, "We take immense pride in this album, a culmination of a trilogy that commenced with our debut. Crafted during a challenging era in contemporary history, 'No Time to Waste' emerges as an anthem of hope. In contrast to our previous dark conceptual endeavor, we've refined this record. The ten tracks within are both weighty and charged, delivering a potent metal experience coupled with a profound message - that collectively, we can overcome, but time is of the essence."
AFTERMATH is:
Kyriakos "Charlie" Tsiolis - Vocals
Steve Sacco - Guitar
Ray Schmidt - Drums
George Lagis - Bass